Allison Erin puts exclamation point on Reavis’ balanced victory

SHARE Allison Erin puts exclamation point on Reavis’ balanced victory

When Reavis’ seniors were introduced as part of Senior Night festivities before Monday’s game against crosstown rival Queen of Peace, the players’ favorite soccer moments were shared with the crowd. The Rams’ Allison Erin couldn’t come up with one.

That won’t be a problem anymore.

The host Rams scored four unanswered goals, Erin providing the finishing touches with her first career goal, for a 4-1 win.

“This is definitely my favorite moment now,” Erin said. “I played goalie my first three years and I don’t play much, so I’ve never scored. It was very exciting.

“We knew we were the better team. It was just a matter of showing it instead of just saying it.”

Reavis (10-6) also got a goal and an assist from Edith Benitez and goals from Stephanie Solis and Vicky Paczkowska.

Nina Izzo scored off a Priscilla Rodriguez assist to give Queen of Peace (5-7-1) the lead in the seventh minute.

It stood up until the final minute of the first half when Benitez made a strong run down the sideline and sent a cross that Solis tracked down. With Queen of Peace goalie Kazy Garfias charging out of the net, Solis’ shot deflected off Garfias’ body and in for the equalizer with 38 seconds left in the half.

“I knew the half was running out and I just felt like I had to make that run and give it my all,” Benitez said. “I crossed it and was exciting seeing Stephanie score. This is a big rivalry for us and we really wanted to win.”

The goal turned the tide for the Rams.

“It was a momentum shifter,” Queen of Peace coach Julio Martinez said. “That’s what we want to avoid is giving up goals in the last five minutes of a half. The girls were hungry and they wanted to go forward instead of defend and it cost us. Give Reavis credit. They really came out in the second half and played well.”

Benitez scored on a counter-attack three minutes into the second half to give the Rams the lead. Paczkowska made it a 3-1 with 27:17 left, floating a shot from 35 yards out over Garfias’ head.

Makayla Spielman made four saves for Reavis.

“I was happy with the way the girls responded in the second half,” Reavis coach Phil Basile said. “It was good to see the seniors play well and get a win on Senior Night.”

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