HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' SOCCER: ENRIGHT NETS GAME WINNER AS HORSEHEADS TOPS ELMIRA (24 PHOTOS) (2023-09-14)

By Brian Fees
Southern Tier Sports Report
ELMIRA — Isabella Enright made her first goal of the season a special one as she netted the game winner in Horseheads 2-1 win over Elmira on Wednesday night.

“That was actually my first goal of the season, so I’m really proud of myself,” Enright said.

The win moves the Blue Raiders to 4-1 on the year, as they have allowed just two goals in the five games this year. Goalie Ava Fairbrother hasn’t allowed a goal that wasn’t a penalty kick yet this year.

“I’m so happy because I have the best keeper, I have the actual best keeper in the world,” Enright said. I trust so much in my goalie.”

For Fairbrother there are always some nerves in a close game.

“It was so nerve-wracking,” she said. “It gets pretty nerve-wracking, but I think you get used to it as time goes on.”

What helps is that Fairbrother is now a two-year varsity starter, who has played goalie her whole life.

“She has played goal since we were kids,” Enright said.

“Since we were little,” Fairbrother added. It helps a lot, there is a lot of knowledge to know. I feel like it helps a lot. You can tell the readings of different goal keepers and how I read it.”

Elmira had a huge scoring chance a little more than midway through the second half as the ball got through the hands of Fairbrother and came in front of the net. With the ball sitting right near the goal line Sophia Bonnell cleared it out for Horseheads.

“I was scared, I was really scared,” Fairbrother said of the sequence. “It kind of hit off me.”

“Then Soph Bonnell kicked it right out of the goal,” Enright added. “It was a great save by Soph Bonnell.”

The Blue Raiders goalie has been dominant all year, and it also is a help for her to have a defense that makes big plays in front of her.

“It feels really nice that I can rely on them,” Fairbrother said.

The Blue Raiders have a group of girls that have been playing together for years, which helps them on the field.

“We have such a great chemistry on our team, we all love each other,” Enright said.

Katie Miley had the first goal for Horseheads and Maddie Ribble had an assist for the Blue Raiders.

Lilly Rice had the Elmira goal in the game.

Horseheads had 11 shots and two corner kicks and Elmira had seven shots and two corner kicks.

Fairbrother had seven saves for Elmira and Belle Pack had four saves for Elmira.

“So far we are 4-1, so we have a great winning streak so far,” Enright said.
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PHOTOS BY BRIAN FEES.

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