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Keeper Banfield shines in Bengals draw against Fredonia
By Leif Reigstad
On October 2, 2012
A late mistake cost the Buffalo State women's soccer team a crucial three points in a 1-1
draw with Fredonia Friday afternoon at Coyer Field.
Bengals freshman center back Gabrianna Boldinski scored off a corner in the 29th
minute, heading the ball into the bottom left corner of the net. Boldinski's first collegiate
goal gave Buffalo State (1-6-3 overall, 0-1-2 SUNYAC) a 1-0 lead.
"It was a routine corner," Boldinski said. "We focused on heading a lot in practice. I just
pictured what to do and stayed calm."
Boldinski also helped contain Fredonia's dangerous midfield duo of Reilly Condidoro, a
2011 Division III All-American, and Katie Kleine, who combined for 18 total shots.
"They had a couple of very dangerous center midfielders that both play in the gap
between midfield and the forward line," said Bengals' head coach Nick DeMarsh. "Both
players are able to pick up the ball and join the forwards in attack. I was very happy with
our defensive organization."
Boldinski noted she liked her team's performance.
"I thought we played really well," Boldinski said. "We stayed composed and kept our
shape. We just kept talking. They were really fast so we just passed them on and made
sure we marked up."
Although the Bengals' midfield did well to contain Condidoro, who DeMarsh called the
best player in the league, there are still facets of the game they need to develop.
"We need to improve our ability to control the ball in the middle-third," DeMarsh
said. "We need to be able to hold the ball in that area. When we do, we get chances."
The thing the Bengals lack most right now though, is experience. Their youth has been
the storyline of the season so far, and it proved once again to be a double-edged sword
against Fredonia.
Boldinski scored the lone goal for the Bengals, but a miscue by another freshman cost the
Bengals a key league win.
"Our inexperience hurt us," DeMarsh said. "We should have won that game."
In the 72nd minute, a freshman defender gave the Blue Devils a golden opportunity to
equalize from the penalty spot after committing a reckless foul inside the box.
Fredonia had a long throw-in right to a player's feet inside the penalty area.
"Her back was to the goal," DeMarsh said. "She had nowhere to go. [My defender] ran
right through the girl. I have no complaints about the call. She was in a position she never
would have scored from. It was a freshman mistake."
Seconds before the play, junior co-captain Shannon Yokopovich was subbed out, and
replaced by the freshman who conceded the penalty kick.
"The most influential player for us so far has been Yokopovich," DeMarsh said. "She's
been playing incredibly well. We're asking her to play too much. Playing 90 or more
minutes every match, it's superhuman.
"One of our co-captains is injured, so we had to look to our bench. It's a decision I have
to take responsibility for. She didn't ask for a breather."
"I definitely was tired," Yokopovich said. "I could've stayed in, but I like when other
players get the playing time they deserve."
Condidoro converted the penalty kick, beating Bengals' goalkeeper Linda Banfield low
and to the left - the lone blemish in an otherwise dazzling performance between the
pipes by the sophomore.
Banfield kept Fredonia scoreless during open play, making numerous diving stops en
route to her 12 total saves.
"She had the best game of her career," DeMarsh said. "She made very important stops
late when they were pressing."
Banfield made a great play in the 43rd minute, stopping a chip shot by Candidoro. While
off-balance and backpedaling, Banfield jumped up and got just enough of the ball to send
it over the net. The ball skimmed the crossbar on its way safely out of play.
"(Banfield) played amazing," Yokopovich said. "Athlete of the week right there. She's
our rockstar."
The Bengals will need more games like this from Banfield if they want to make the
SUNYAC playoffs.
"There's not an easy game left," DeMarsh said. "It's a tall task. We have to do some very
big things fast if we want to make the playoffs."
Dropping points against Fredonia isn't quite what the Bengals needed to get back on
track.
"It hurts us," DeMarsh said. "That's the fact. It's not completely negative, but we wanted,
needed and should've had three points.
"Until we can put things away, we're going to struggle. We're getting into very
dangerous territory."
The Bengals continue their SUNYAC schedule Friday as they host Cortland at 4 p.m.
Leif Reigstad can be reached by email at reigstad.record@live.com
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