Buckeye closes season with resilient second-half push against Saint Joseph Academy

Buckeye closed its season Friday night with a 11-4 loss to Saint Joseph Academy, but the Bucks turned the final half into the kind of response that carried more weight than the score alone. After Saint Joseph built an 11-0 halftime lead at Buckeye High School, Buckeye settled in, found possession through the draw circle and midfield, and scored all four of its goals after the break in a game marked by perseverance, sportsmanship and late momentum.

Saint Joseph seized control early, scoring three times in the first few minutes while winning draws and pushing quickly into the attacking end. Buckeye, playing shorthanded and dealing with injuries on a cold evening, spent much of the opening half under pressure but tightened defensively in the second quarter, holding Saint Joseph to three goals over that stretch. Leah Droes and Zoey Jarvis helped anchor that effort, while Natalie Clark played a physical all-field game that included cutting off fast breaks and helping Buckeye regain control.

The decisive shift came after halftime, when Saint Joseph offered relief players so Buckeye could continue to compete with more balance. The game changed from there. Molly Danilovic sparked the Bucks by taking the ball from the defensive end and racing the length of the field through double and triple teams for Buckeye's first goal, a shorthanded run that got the home side on the board and energized the team. Danilovic later added her second goal of the night, giving her the team lead in total goals for the season.

Buckeye kept building in the second half. Andreea Ghise scored her second goal of the season after tracking down an offensive ground ball and finishing the chance. Avery Derringer followed with her first high school goal, charging through traffic for another highlight moment. Mya Galdun added several strong runs in transition and into the offensive end, even though the finishing touch never came, and Buckeye's improved possession in the half was fueled in large part by Droes, who controlled several draws, nearly all of her opportunities, to help the offense get going.

Buckeye also received steady defensive work from its back line. Jarvis, Ghise, Reagan Kurilec, Ellie Conway and Grace Hatfield combined to make Saint Joseph work for opportunities as the game settled down, and the Bucks showed more composure in the midfield as the second half unfolded. With Danilovic leading the scoring, Ghise converting on a hustle play, Derringer breaking through for her first varsity goal and Droes delivering key draw control and work in goal, Buckeye found a number of positives to carry forward from the season finale.

More than anything, the night became a reflection of what the program valued most. In difficult conditions, and with Buckeye short on numbers, both teams helped create a competitive and memorable finish. The score went to Saint Joseph, but the second half belonged to the kind of teamwork, sportsmanship and shared enjoyment that made the final game of the year stand out. Buckeye's late push, capped by Derringer's first high school score, gave the closing moments a lasting note.