WINGATE - Bald Eagle Area sophomore Haley Geidroc is the offense sparkplug for the Lady Eagles. There is no questioning that fact.
As Geidroc and BEA took on Tyrone, the Golden Eagles also knew that, as they blanketed the talented sophomore and walked out of Alumni Stadium in Wingate with a 4-1 victory.
"Tyrone is a much-improved team," BEA head coach Kerri Schmidt said. "Their coach has done a great job turning that program around. Give them a lot of credit, they came out tonight and were ready to play hard. Unfortunately, we came out very flat and it took us a while to warm up. They took it to us in the first twenty minutes."
Article Photos
NATE?WILSON/THE?EXPRESS
BEA’s Hailey Furrow battles with a host of Tyrone players yesterday at Alumni Stadium. BEA?lost to Tyrone, 4-1. For more photos, see cu.lockhaven.com.
The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first 20 minutes of the game and never seemed to ease off the throttle.
Tyrone set the tone as they were able to control the action, possessing the ball with a deft touch and providing a solid backline that the Lady Eagles just couldn't break through.
Geidroc found the going a little tough, as she was faced with a sea of orange any time she touched the ball in the open field.
"Haley had a spectacular freshman season and when you have that good of a season, it puts a target on your back," Schmidt said. "She is a marked player now. Being a great player is about rising above that. She is working through that part right now. She is going be successful, it is just about finding that touch and creating space."
Tyrone did a great job of closing the distance on the field, cutting off her passing opportunities and handcuffing the Lady Eagles offensive groove.
"Tyrone did a great job of beating us to the ball," Schmidt said. "That takes nothing more than guts. It doesn't take talent or skill. It is just about toughing it out and being first to the ball."
Bald Eagle had their chances in the game.
In the 12th minute of play, Olivia Hardy launched a free kick - that just floated the ball over the crossbar.
Six minutes later, Hailey Furrow had a chance, as the left-footed Lady Eagle sent a beautiful kick that bent directly into Tyrone keeper Mikayla Fisher's hands.
The Golden Eagle offensive explosion started in the second minute of play, as they worked the ball deep into the Lady Eagle defense before Hope Wilson trickled a ball past the reach of BEA keeper, Makennah Dyke - giving Tyrone 1-0 lead.
Samantha Bowman posted the second Tyrone goal of the game, as she lofted a ball to the far-left post - good enough to give the Lady Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead.
Kristlyn Dibert added to the Tyrone lead, as she wrangled the ball through a host of Lady Eagles and sent the ball past the goalie, pushing the lead to 3-0.
"Slow starts have been part of our issues all season," Schmidt said. "We have to come out hard from the start. When we do that, good things happen. When we don't, it turns out like tonight. To be successful, we need to set the tone early. We are a better team this year, but we need to play to our potential."
BEA scored their lone goal of the night in the 31st minute of play.
After a Tyrone penalty in their box, Geidroc took the penalty kick and laced the ball right past the hand of Fisher, cutting into the Golden Eagle lead, 3-1.
The Golden Eagles got things back on track as Wilson sailed a ball over the head of replacement BEA goalie, Mikayla Robison, giving Tyrone a 4-1 lead with a little less than 24 minutes left in the game.
The Lady Eagles could have packed it in and called it a night, but they didn't.
Bald Eagle pushed the attack, spending most of the last 20 minutes in Tyrone territory. The Lady Eagles went down swinging, but ultimately couldn't find the net again.
"We talked about a little about playing inspired," Schmidt said. " We needed to stop playing paniced. We got sucked into that early. Once we settle down, we are a lot more successful."
Bald Eagle Area will host Jersey Shore on Saturday at 11 a.m.
"We need to refocus," Schmidt said. "I think right now, we are a team struggling for an identity. We need to do the little things and get our balance back. Once that comes around, we are much better off.
