WINCHESTER– It is always stressful, playing in your first varsity game. It would be easy to back down under the pressure.
Yet, when her team needed her most, Audrey Houllahan made her moment count.
The Winchester girls’ soccer freshman sniped the game-clinching goal in the 69th minute Tuesday, delivering the Red and Black a thrilling 1-0 victory over Wilmington to open their fall campaign.
“It felt really good,” Houllahan said afterward. “To make it, then win a game (was crazy).”
It was a new start, and in more ways than one for the Red and Black (1-0). With 11 underclassmen on the roster, it was a dramatic introduction. For the majority of their season-opener, they continued to pepper the Wilmington net, only to be stymied by Wilmington’s sophomore goaltender, Jillian Weinstein. It was a trend that would carry on into the latter stages, the two schools still deadlocked in a scoreless contest.
Yet, Winchester’s group remained tightly-knit.
“We have a lot of new players, especially underclassmen,” said Red and Black senior captain Lilly Ossen. “For it being our first game, they jell so well with us, and it felt really good to play with them on the field, having been veterans.”
Once the second half began, Wilmington found life, as senior captain Alison McElligott took off on a breakaway. However, junior Amelia Burke came up with a heroic stop for Winchester, preserving things in the process.
It turned out to be the best chance that the Wildcats would have all afternoon. The score would hold until the waning stages of regulation.
With the game hanging in the balance, Houllahan slipped past a defender, then angled her way upfield. As players began to scramble by the net, the freshman fired away, gracefully sliding a shot past a diving Weinstein for what turned out to be the winning goal.
The rising star was immediately mobbed by her teammates following her heroic feat.
“It was a through-ball,” Houllahan recounted. “I just ran as fast as I could to get it. I don’t know what happened with the goalie, but I think it kind of went through her.”
For Eve Kretschmer, it was a memorable start. The interim coach was filling in for Winchester’s rising head coach, Michelle Ross, who stepped down from the school this summer. The decision came after a successful first season under her watch, when the Red and Black attained a 15-2-3 record to pair with a Div. 1 Sweet 16 appearance.
That said, Kretschmer is leaving the door open for Ross’ return, however.
“We all want Coach Ross back on the field as soon as possible,” Kretschmer said. “Really, really big shoes to fill. I’m happy that I could be here to support the team and support the girls. Hoping for a quick resolution, so that she can be back here as soon as possible.”
