Wildcats Split At Manchester Invite
NORTH MANCHESTER – Whitko showed well Saturday at the Manchester Girls Soccer Invitational, but could not quite get over the hump in a runner-up finish to Rochester.
A 0-0 tie between Rochester and Whitko in the final forced the game into penalties, where Rochester topped Whitko 3-1. Ellyana Blue had the lone conversion for the Wildcats in the final shootout. Jordan Hall would make eight saves in the match for Whitko.
Reaching the final required Whitko to have to beat the hosts, which Whitko did in a 3-2 penalty shootout.
A Kaitlin Whitaker strike in the second half gave Whitko life, but with Manchester matching the goal, a shootout was necessary, to which Whitko converted shots from Sydney Sims, Leighandra Goodman and Blue. Ilyssa Bennett was credited with the assist on the Whitaker goal. Hall would make 11 stops in the Manchester match, totaling 19 saves in the tournament.
Whitko (2-3-2) will next play Wednesday at Wawasee, where it will seek its first-ever program win against the Lady Warriors. First kick is set for 5 p.m.