On Sept. 16th Hannah Gallivan, as she was being helped off the soccer field, wondered if she’d ever play again.
Twelve days later, she scored a game-winning goal.
Gallivan netted the game-winner with 4:12 left in regulation to lift Kenmore West over Lockport, 1-0, in Niagara Frontier League girls soccer action that was played at the Kenmore West Athletic Complex, Wednesday afternoon.
Gallivan took a pass from Mary Tobin, broke in on Lady Lions goalie Hannah Mullen and fired the shot. But Mullen was unable to absorb the ball and it rebounded back to Gallivan who fired again – this time finding the back of the net.
“It feels really good,” said Gallivan. “It was hard because it hurt a lot, but I knew I had to push through it. And at the end I wanted to come out, but I know that I had to push through it and try to get us a goal because I didn’t want to go into overtime (laughs).”
“It started with a great ball from Mary Tobin in the back,” Gallivan continued. “It went right over the defenseman and the goalie was coming out at me and I was kind of nervous with my knee, but I just went straight through and it worked.”
It was a relief for Gallivan who sustained a knee injury in the Lady Blue Devils 3-0 win over Kenmore East on Sept.16. Helped off the field then taken for medical attention, the uncertainty of exactly what her injury was had Gallivan truly fearing the worst.
“I’m just so grateful, especially because I’m a senior, that I can bounce back so fast and get a goal in one of my first games back,” she said, “get a game-winner.”
After 10 days of rest she returned to action on Monday and played a few minutes in the Lady Blue Devils loss to North Tonawanda.
The win lifts the Blue Devils to 7-3 overall, 6-3 in the NFL, while the Lions fall to 2-7-1 in league.
A battle of the walking wounded, the 2016 season has taken its toll on both teams, especially in the last two weeks, as the Blue Devils have been playing down three-to-five starters on most days.
The Lions, however, are facing an even tougher numbers issue as injuries and the fall cold bug cost Lockport eight of its players on this day.
First-year coach Jessica O’Donoghue had to shore up her numbers by bringing over four girls from the Lions lacrosse team, which she also coaches. And senior Madeline Bennon, who was cut from the soccer team last season.
“Dealing with injuries is awful and my girls are sick, too. So I was trying to give them breaks. I was throwing girls in positions that they had never played before,” said O’Donoghue. “Then I have girls who have never played soccer and I just throw them up top and just try to teach them to be scrappy and be my first line of defense.”
The majority of the first half seemed to be a feeling out process as both teams worked hard, but neither team could create a quality scoring chance.
It wasn’t until the final 30 minutes of the game that both teams found their game, especially the Blue Devils as they had three golden opportunities to score during a quick three minute span. But Lockport goalie Hannah Mullen was up to the challenge as she stopped all three – two of which were back-to-back saves with 28 minutes to play in the second half.
“Her knee was dislocated 12 days ago and here she is today coming back. Working high pressure,” said Ken-West coach Clarence Boatman.
“It was a relief to be able to work her in against NT on Monday for a short time and today work her in a little more time. And it shows how much we need her.”
The Blue Devils also received strong play in the field from Emma Pfohl and Rachel Sefried, who has stepped up as a voice of leadership since injuries started to hit the team.
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