Girls Soccer: Iannello rises to head Strath Haven past Unionville

Strath Haven's Ami Iannello Haven heads in a goal as Unionville's Jenny Hineman defends during Thursday night's District One playoff game. In the foreground is Strath Haven's Maddy Forbes. (Submitted photo / Bill Carey)

NETHER PROVIDENCE — Three minutes into the second overtime period on a frigid Thursday night, Strath Haven High’s girls soccer team finally decided to play its best ball of the night.

From just outside the 18-yard box, senior All-Delco Kristen Miller had plenty of open space and sent a cross into the box toward the far post. Ten yards out, junior Ami Iannello was just waiting for a chance as she seemed to hang in the air until the ball got to her, putting just enough of a flick on it to push it past the Unionville goalie and give the No. 3 seed Panthers a 1-0 win in the second round fo the District One Class AAA playoffs.

Iannello said she felt the defender on her back and knew she had to take a shot.

“It was just kind of go for it and hope for the best,’ she said.

Iannello’s header sends third-seeded Strath Haven (15-1-2) into the quarterfinals to play No. 6 Central Bucks East, which defeated No . 11 Conestoga 4-0.

The Panthers used the same combination of Miller to Iannello to defeat No. 19 Unionville (11-7-1) as it did in the second round of the tournament last year. Coach Gino Miraglia actually dropped Miller, a forward, back into the midfield to take advantage of some of that open space so she could get a ball into the air for the rest of the forwards.

“We talked at halftime and at the end of regulation about getting the ball deep into the end and looking for those crosses or trying to get a corner kick because we seem to be stronger in the air finishing-wise right now,’ he said.
When Miller had the chance to set up a play, she knew exactly what to do with it and who her target was.

“Actually a couple weeks ago we practiced that exact play of coming in from the far post, so I knew she would be there,’ she said. “We have disciplined forwards that stay out wide so I knew we’d have support out there and [I tried to] just get it behind the defense and hope for the best.’

Though Strath Haven was the favorite coming into the matchup, Unionville held its own and dominated for much of the second half. Indians Coach Joe Ratasiewicz said he switched to a 4-3-3 to take advantage of the open space up top and push forward, but his players were stymied by the stingy Panthers defense on many of their chances. When they did get shots off, sophomore goalkeeper Katie Fisher was there, making five saves on the night.

“Their defense is good, they get in your way and don’t give you really clean looks at the net,’ he said. “We never got a real, clean look at the net. We had glimpses of it, but before we could even get a shot off there’s somebody in the way.’

The Panthers had two chances to end it late in regulation but were unable to capitalize. Senior defender Allie Wilson nearly bent a corner kick into the goal in the 76th minute but a Unionville defender was able to keep it out of the net and cleared it off the line. Then, with seconds remaining, Unionville’s Rachel Hughes stepped in front of a ball that otherwise would have found the back of the net to send it to overtime.

Miraglia was disappointed with the way his midfield was disorganized at times, especially in the second half when the Indians were able to push forward and get into space. He’s hoping that all changes Saturday, though, as he expects to get back captain and All-Delco Sophie Murphy, a senior midfielder who has missed a few games with a broken arm.

Though Unionville was disappointed to walk away with the loss, Ratasiewicz was more than happy with his team’s effort to force two overtimes with the third-seeded team. As for the winning goal, he couldn’t put any fault on his players.

“Great cross, the girl got off the ground and headed it perfectly,’ Ratasiewicz said. “What are you going to do? It was a great shot.’

: Strath Haven’s Ami Iannello Haven heads in a goal as Unionville’s Jenny Hineman defends during Thursday night’s District One playoff game. In the foreground is Strath Haven’s Maddy Forbes. (Submitted photo / Bill Carey)