Abington up 1-0 at half. Abington capitalized off of a PW turnover in our defensive third.

We did not play well in the first half. We were tentative, nervous, and looked tired. Opening game jitters are expected but this wasn't the team that the coaches have seen during our preseason.

The second half was an entirely different story. We started challenging for the ball, winning second balls, and reacting faster.

We've put an emphasis on set pieces on film from our scrimmage and at practice over the past couple of weeks. I joked with the old PW Girls and Boys soccer coach today, Steve Slack, that he hadn't told me the secret yet about how to score goals. He said "Set pieces."

Well, we won a free kick at midfield. Senior defender, Meg Wendler, played a beautiful ball that bounced in front of the keeper and our sophomore forward, Mia Baron, timed her run and ran the ball into the back of the net.

A few minutes later, we won another free kick and sophomore Maddie McGuckien stepped up to take it. Maddie took it from the left sideline about 15 yards out from the endline. She curled it in back post. Incredible shot. Maddie has been one of our best players all pre-season and her final 25 minutes today was just outstanding. Maddie is just getting started and is going to be a force in midfield in this league.

Caitlyn Dinh was outstanding in net to open up her senior year. To hold a team as skilled as Abington is to one goal requires a total team effort but I'd like to highlight the play of Brianna Reynolds, Meghan Wendler, and Katie Lukens in defense.

Sophomore Keira Whelan had an outstanding second half, giving us an outlet in offensive transition. We had her in midfield to start preseason and moved her up to forward last week. So, she will continue to grow in that role.

Prior to today, we had lost to Abington seven straight times and last year, in playoffs, we lost 2-1 in overtime. The playoff game was a huge step in proving to ourselves that we can play with that team. Our team wanted it today, for multiple reasons, so I am thrilled for them to experience that on our home field to open our season. It should give us confidence moving forward.