By Michael Letendre

The Bristol Eastern girls soccer team is on a roll, just as the postseason is around the corner.

This past Thursday, the Lancers made its only game against Plainville count – sinking the Blue Devils by a 1-0 final from Tinty Field in Plainville.

Eastern is now 5-6-1 with three matches left to play.

Scoring the game-winning goal for the Lancers was Megan Krok, assisted by Emily Nelson, with four minutes to go in the first frame.

That edge held into the half as neither squad scored in the second stanza, leading to the 1-0 win for the Kingstreeters.

The first half of play was very sloppy on both sides, looking like a ping pong game more than a soccer match according to Eastern coach Scott Redman.

But with around five minutes remaining in the first period, Eastern went on the attack in the scoreless affair.

The Lancers strung together a few passes with Taigan Parent settling a ball in the middle, playing Nelson in the center of the attack as Eastern was on the verge of scoring.

Nelson ended up playing a beautiful through ball to a streaking Krok who did the rest, beating the Plainville keeper for a goal – propelling the Lancers to a 1-0 lead. 

Halftime was an opportunity to reset and revive with the wind at the Lancers back. 

Most of play in the final half was controlled by the Lancers, creating numerous opportunities throughout the second forty minutes as Eastern outshot Plainville 17-2 overall in the game. 

But Plainville’s Amber St. Onge (three saves) and her back line was up to the task, covering all angles and watched many of Eastern shots sail wide of the target.

On the flip side, the Blue Devils didn’t have any answers for Grace D’Amato and the Lancers’ back line – earning another big shutout this week.

And in the end, Eastern was a 1-0 victor in Plainville as the Lancers moved one point away from CIAC state tournament qualification after earning two victories this week. 

The loss dropped the Blue Devils to 5-4-2.

“We came in focused on getting two wins and four points this week,” said Redman. “We had to survive numerous injuries and players not at one-hundred percent and although it wasn’t the best soccer and the way we wanted to play all week, we accomplished our goal and earned the four points.”

NOTES…The Lancers have gone 3-1-1 over its last five matches to get one game within .500…Eastern has two more matches to play from Alumni Field this year, starting with a rematch against Berlin next Tuesday at 6 p.m. under the lights…Earlier in the season, the Lancers – leading at the half – let one slip away at Berlin as Eastern dropped a tough 4-3 decision back on September 13…Berlin is also on a two-match winning streak, sinking Platt 8-0 and then dropped Central by a 2-0 push this past Thursday. The Redcoats are currently 6-4-3 overall.

Bristol Eastern girls soccer – CCC South

BRISTOL EASTERN 1, PLAINVILLE 0

from Tinty Field, Plainville

Scoring                                   1 2 – F

Bristol Eastern (5-6-1)          1 0 – 1

Plainville (5-4-2)                    0 0 – 0

Goals

36th minute – Megan Krok (Bristol Eastern) from Emily Nelson

Shots: Bristol Eastern 17, Plainville 2

Saves: Grace D’Amato (Bristol Eastern), 1; Amber St. Onge (Plainville), 3

Records: Bristol Eastern 5-6-1 overall; Plainville 5-4-2