Our Lady of Peace and Cathedral Catholic had met twice before Friday, with the Pilots getting the best of the Dons both times.
This time, the Dons got the best of their Catholic school rivals, winning 4-2 and helping them clinch the Western League title.
“OLP is a team that we have lost to two times already, and knowing this was our last league game of the season, we wanted to come out and make a statement.” Cathedral coach Dawn Lee said.
The Dons set the tempo immediately.
On the Dons’ first possession, Cathedral junior Anna Wilson made an excellent run down the near sideline towards the left corner and sent a high cross into the box to an unmarked Tyler Rolf, who beat the keeper to her right for the game’s opening goal.
The visiting Pilots quickly countered with two goals of their own. In the 13th minute, senior captain Rosalyn Wisniew-Colwell buried a free kick from 28 yards out to tie the match.
Four minutes later, Capri Reyes poked one inside the far post from short range to make it a 2-1 OLP lead.
Just as momentum swung in OLP’s favor, Cathedral Catholic struck back.
In the 22nd minute, Olivia Dianda rifled home the first of her two goals.
“Olivia is just so dynamic, she works so hard, and she always wants to score,” Lee said. “She is definitely a goal-scorer, and she likes to take the team and put them on her back and say, ‘Lets go; I’ll get us there if I need to.’”
The Dons’ high-powered attack kicked into high gear midway through the second half.
In the 60th, the Dons converted a corner kick to take the lead. Lila Conroy played a low runner into the box to the waiting feet of freshman Lauren Gaviola, who flicked it into the bottom left corner in what proved to be the game-winner.
“That was a great ball from Lila there to really drive a ball in there, especially with the ball being so slick right now,” Lee said. “Proud of her for switching it up a little bit and for us finishing off a corner.”
