By JEREMY SELLEW
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If anyone was wondering what a rivalry game looked like on the soccer field, Wednesday’s game between Belle Vernon Area and Ringgold at James Weir Stadium had it all – physicality, finesse and a little drama.
It was the underdog Leopards earning a 2-1 win in the first round between the two this season thanks to Kataira Rhodes’ gamewinner with 9:26 remaining.
Just minutes after Rhodes pulled a shot wide off a cross from teammate Farrah Reader, the two connected again, just from the other side of the field.
Reader won possession in the left corner and drove the goal line, just before sending a perfect pass to Rhodes, who beat Ringgold keeper Emily Doleno to her left.
“I’d say this was one of the biggest, most-needed wins in the past couple of seasons,” BVA head coach Tracy Lovett said. “Especially with the way we started the season. This was a big one, now we’re right back in the thick of things. Ringgold is a very good team that has a lot of speed. Now we know we can hang with these good teams and we keep getting better and better.”
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