It’s always a physical, intense, emotional duel whenever Greenwich Academy and Sacred Heart Greenwich renew their varsity soccer rivalry and the game is usually a one-goal thriller, so it wasn’t surprising when the score was tied in the second half when the Gators and Tigers played their much-anticipated matchup on Sept. 25th.

Entering the game at Greenwich Academy on Sept. 25th, the Tigers and Gators played one-goal games the previous four times they faced each other and this latest match was another chapter in their epic rivalry.

With the score deadlocked, junior Maia Bostwick scored off a header, giving host Greenwich Academy an exciting 2-1 win over Sacred Heart Greenwich in a back-and-forth FAA game. Bostwick’s game-winning goal occurred with 14:42 remaining in the second half.

Sophomore Lucre Berardi took a free kick that was awarded to GA and from approximately 40 yards out sent her high arcing kick down the left side of the field. Cutting toward the goal, Bostwick rose up for a header and headed the ball just past SHG junior goalie Claire McMonagle, giving the Gators a 2-0 lead.

“I saw Lucre, the kicker call my name and I was aiming for a goal outside the 18 and I saw my chance and I took it and I ran to the ball,” Bostwick said of her go-ahead goal. “It felt amazing, I was looking forward to this game all day, I had butterflies in my stomach. I couldn’t have done it without this team.”

There was still plenty of time left in this FAA matchup after Bostwick’s goal gave Greenwich Academy a 2-1 advantage. Sacred Heart Greenwich pushed up, stepped up its pressure and forced GA to play a lot of defense, especially during the final 10-plus minutes of action.

The Tigers forced a corner kick in the last minute of action, but Gators sophomore goalie Lavely Corbin made a key save, keeping the hosts in front. With the score knotted at 1-1 earlier in the second half, junior Jaiden Vital, freshman Carrie Bakker and senior co-captain Arianna Chin each registered quality shots on goal for Sacred Heart. Corbin, however, kept the scored tied at 1-1 with significant saves.

“The last five minutes were definitely stressful, but we played our own game and the energy was high on the field and off the field, which was really good and it kept the momentum going until the very end,” Corbin said.

GA head coach Kate Sands was impressed with Corbin’s performance and has been pleased with how she’s played in each game in her first season as a starter in net.

“She was unbelievable, she has been one of the brightest spots of the season for us,” Sands said of Corbin. “She started with us as an eighth grader, she was the backup the past two years. This is going to be a big season for her. She is coming into that role and she has exceeded expectations. She’s incredibly vocal on the field and she has come up with huge saves.”

Senior forward Georgia Lillis scored for Sacred Heart Greenwich, which posted a 1-0 win over GA in 2024 at SHG. In 2023, the Tigers also were victorious versus the Gators by a goal, edging them 2-1, in the regular season. The 2023 FAA Tournament quarterfinals saw GA earned a 1-0 victory over SHG and in 2022, Sacred Heart notched a 1-0 triumph against Greenwich Academy. So, indeed, close, down-to-the-wire games are the norm for these Greenwich-based rivals.

“I thought it was amazing effort, it was some of the best soccer we’ve played,” Sacred Heart junior Lucia Coviello said of the Tigers’ play against the Gators. “We played very fluid, great passes and sometimes, it’s not your day, even if you’re playing the best you can.”

With the home win, GA improved its record in the FAA to 5-0-1. The Gators, who are atop the FAA standings with 16 points, have also recorded victories against Masters School, Greenwich Country Day School, King School and School of the Holy Child.

“This is the best I’ve been on,” Bostwick said. “The talent is amazing and everyone has improved immensely since the preseason. I’m so excited to see how much this program improves in the next three to four years.”

Sacred Heart is 2-1-1 in the FAA has three wins overall and like GA, has performed well each game.

“I feel great, this is the best we’ve every played against GA,” Smith said of his squad. “We were physical, we were strong without the ball. When we had the ball we showed great composure. That’s the way we looked all season. We just have to find the final piece in the final third and turn all this great possession into chances.”

Sophomore Juliet DeStefano gave the Gators a 1-0 lead in the first half. Winning the ball in the Tigers’ attacking third, DeStefano, who Sands described as “one of the fastest players I’ve ever seen,” used her speed to create space and convert her shot, putting the Gators ahead, 1-0. 

Said DeStefano: “I thought we played really strong as a team in the first half, we came out very strong. Then, we got a little bit lost and in the second half we came out strong. After Maia scored the header, I thought the energy was brought back. Overall, we played very well.”

Lillis knotted the score at 1-1 for SHG. She scored off a header after junior forward Eva Wilkerson sent a well-executed cross to her.

“Our team did really well, GA’s team is awesome, it’s really hard to play against them, they put up a good fight, but I think we did too,” Lillis said. “I don’t think this will be the last time we see them, hopefully, we get to see them in the FAA Tournament. I’m really proud of our girls and I think we put it all out there.”

Both team’s goalies rose to the occasion. Senior Berardi, senior co-captain Juliana Kreuzer, senior co-captain Maggie Whidden and junior Zahra Avdiu helped pace GA’s defensive and midfield effort, while freshman Katherine Petrillo helped was among numerous athletes solidifying Sacred Heart’s defense.

“It was a huge win for us, we all played really hard and I think in the beginning, we had a little bit of a disconnection and after the first half we really got it together and everyone worked cohesively,” Avdiu noted. “Everyone was doing their part and everyone was playing strong.”

“I think in the beginning we came out really strong and then maybe, got a little timid and weren’t playing our strongest and then after we settled down and locked in, we all played together a lot better.,” Avdiu continued.

Indeed, this game is one both teams mark on their schedule/calendar.

“There was definitely a lot of banter, it’s a high-pressure, high-stress game for us, because they are our rivals,” Avdiu said. “So, everyone was high strung, but after everyone settled down, we were able to play the way we play.”

Said DeStefano: “It was very energetic and I love playing in games that. It really brings the energy up and it helps us play together as a team. We need to be pumped up like this game, every game and we need this kind of energy for every game.”

Smith liked the Tigers’ response to GA’s early goal.

“I thought we controlled the game, from the beginning, we had the ball, we were in control from the beginning of the half,” he said. “Unfortunately, we went a goal down, but that didn’t deter us, the girls kept pushing harder. Their goal came from a mistake from us, so they capitalized on it and we took the game from there and started taking chances and got the goal back.”

“We were the aggressor, but unfortunately, we couldn’t find the back of the net,” Smith continued. “Their keeper made a couple of good saves. We’re really proud of the performance we put out today and the way the girls played the game.”

Sacred Heart which coasted past Millbrook School, 6-0, on Sept. 27th, hosts Hopkins School on Sept. 30.

“I’m very confident with our performance,” Coviello said. “We have a lot of new talent, combined with a lot of old talent and we have a lot of technical players this year. I’m very confident with our ability as a team.”

Greenwich Academy plays host to Taft School on Sept. 30th.

“I said to our girls at the end, the best teams are the ones that can win when they don’t play their best games,” Sands said. “I thought we had moments where we looked very good. I don’t think it was the best performance we put together all season. But in terms of heart and hustle and grit, there’s nothing for we could have asked for. I’m really impressed with the effort across the board.”

“We had some injuries, we had some people that had to step up and play positions they don’t usually play,” Sands continued. “I’m really thrilled with the effort. It’s always good to get a win. Once we settled into things a little bit at the start of the second half, we did great. I think our best period of play was the start of the second half.”

“We were really working on being connected this game, because it’s really crucial when teams play very high and press fast,” Corbin said. “I think we played really well and everyone put their body on the line.  I’m really happy with where we are, we’re doing really well.”