ROME — A pair of Kinley Thoman goals was the difference in Wyalusing's 2-1 win over NEB during NTL girls soccer action.

The former Panthers came off the bench, crashed the goal keeper, and put the rebounds through for the Rams.

"She was hungry, you could tell," said Wyalusing coach Katie Fischer. "She felt like she had something to prove to both teams. She wanted to show us that she's going to be beneficial to us and helpful, and she wanted to show them what she could do. The girls all said they're thankful that she's on our team."

NEB coach Joel Howland felt that's the one thing his team was missing in this game, and it proved to be the difference.

"I preach we need to follow our shots," he said. "I believe six opportunities inside the six if someone would have followed a shot we would have had a 1-v-1 with a goalie. Kinley did that twice, and she scored two goals, so hats off to her."

It was scoreless at the half when, with 25:30 left, Thoman got a rebound off a long shot past NEB keeper Maggie Chappell.

The Panthers would tie it up with 13:13 left to play as Kara Dughi found Elizabeth Stanton alone in inside the goalie box, and she was able to beat Ram keeper Sierra Gromley to the ball to touch it into the back of the net.

However, Wyalusing got the game winner with 5:43 left when Aleta O'Connor played a long ball into the box, and Thoman got a foot on it to put it in.

"Both teams played great," Howland said. "It was a good game."

NEB had 24 shots to Wyalusing's 20, along with a 5-4 edge in corner kicks.

Gromley stopped eight saves to get the win while Chappell had eight saves, as well.

For the Rams the win levels up their record at 2-2 and helps them bounce back from a tough loss to Wellsboro earlier in the week.

"I'm glad the girls pulled it out," said Fischer. "Every time you come over here you know Northeast is gutsy. We talked about that before we come, they're not going to just lay down and let you win."

NEB might be 0-2 but Howland is encouraged by what he's seen so far this year with a pair of one loss contests to two district qualifying teams.

"We came into this season with a lot of momentum from last year," he said. "We lost some players but we had some really good freshmen that wanted to stop up and the two games that we lost we knew were going to be tough games. I feel that we are in a good spot right now - we are communicating well, we're passing, we've having tons of opportunities to put it in the back of the net."

— —