Burrell, Freeport girls soccer clash suspended by weather

By: HSSN Staff
Wednesday, September 6, 2017 | 11:21 PM

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Mother Nature didn't let the Freeport and Burrell girls soccer teams finish their Section 2-AA opener Wednesday evening at Burrell High School.

Lightning caused a delay and eventually led to the game's suspension with 30 minutes left in the second half and the Yellowjackets ahead 3-0.

Burrell athletic director Drake DeAngelo said a decision on a resumption of the game could be made Thursday through discussion with the WPIAL and Freeport athletic director Shawn Stivenson.

“We hope to find a way, and set a date, to continue the game, but we'll see what happens,” DeAngelo said.

The first flash of lightning was detected at 8:43 p.m., and it prompted a mandatory 30-minute wait period, sending both teams' players and coaches to shelter.

As the first 30-minute stoppage was coming to a close, the referees saw more lightning, extending the delay.

About 15 minutes later, the decision was made to suspend the contest.

Heavy rain late in the first half soaked the players and the natural grass surface at Buccaneer Stadium. The rain stopped during halftime, and the general consensus was that the adverse weather had passed.

Freeport coach Brittni Grenninger said she respected the decision to suspend the game, knowing it was made for the safety of the players.

“We left the field with a lot of momentum going our way, and the girls showed a lot of good things tonight,” Grenninger said.

Freeport took a 2-0 lead into halftime off of goals from Kaylee Comperatore and Carli Giori.

Sidney Shemanski extended the lead to 3-0 with a goal four minutes into the second half, and senior goalkeeper Jenna Manke made four saves in her first varsity start.

“If we have to pick this game up where we left off, we will be prepared to do so,” Grenninger said.

The Yellowjackets came into the game with Burrell off of a 10-2 nonsection victory over Riverview on Tuesday. They are 1-1 overall and will host East Allegheny in a Section 2 game Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

Burrell coach Shelby Noll said she and her players wanted to get back on the field but also understood the safety precautions put into motion.

“The girls wanted the chance to get back out there and come back from the deficit,” Noll said. “But there will be another day, and we'll see them again.”

Noll said she had confidence in her team's ability to rally as it came back from a 2-0 deficit at Class AAA Indiana on Tuesday to force overtime. The Bucs had to settle for a 2-2 tie in their season opener.

Burrell also will be back in action Saturday when it visits section foe Springdale at 11 a.m.

Michael Love is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at mlove@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Mlove_Trib.

Tags: Burrell, Freeport