Eastern junior Miranda Konstantinides scored two goals on Monday, each with a different foot, each with a different approach.
The first was a penalty kick. It was all planning and execution. It was blast off her right foot.
The second was pure improvisation. It was a scramble in front of the Cherokee net. It was a slow bouncer off her left foot.
"I just stuck my foot out," Konstantinides said of her second goal, which came with just four seconds remaining in the first half.
Konstantinides' two goals sparked short-handed Eastern to a 2-0 victory over visiting Cherokee in an Olympic American girls' soccer game.
The Vikings, the No. 2 team in The Inquirer preseason top 10, improved to 2-0 overall and 1-0 in the Olympic American despite missing star forward Madison Tiernan for most of the game.
Tiernan, a Rutgers recruit, played just seven minutes in the second half while resting a hip injury.
Junior goalie Courtney Simpson made 11 saves and senior midfielder Devon Cummings played a strong game for No. 7 Cherokee (2-1, 0-1).
"They were the better team," Cherokee coach Andy Clapperton said of Eastern. "They worked harder. They were crisper with their passes and they made the better runs.
"We worked hard at times but we didn't work hard enough from start to finish."
Clapperton said Simpson, who made several strong saves was "fantastic," and that Cummings' play was the key to the Chiefs' ability to generate scoring chances.
"She holds us together," Clapperton said of Cummings.
Eastern coach Jamie McGroarty said his team's depth and balance was a key in off-setting the absence of Tiernan, who is regarded as one of the state's most explosive players. Eastern got strong work from senior forward Alex Edelman, junior midfielder Christine Padovani and sophomore forward Sydney Jackson, among others.
"Everybody we put out there played well," McGroarty said. "They all played their role."
Konstantinides, a center back, gave Eastern a 1-0 lead in the 30th minute after Vikings freshman Jaelyn Thompson was fouled in the box.
Konstantinides said she has her "routine," before taking penalty kicks. She likes the challenge.
"I like taking them because it's a rush when you make it," Konstantinides said. "Every player has their spot that they try to hit. I was able to hit the spot."
The second goal came off a scramble after a re-start, with a score-kepper yelling out the countdown of the final seconds from the sideline. Konstantinides was able to muscle her way free to get just enough on the ball to find the left side of the net.
"Miranda is a strong girl and we like having her in there in those situations," McGroarty said.
Cherokee 0 0 - 0
Eastern 0 2 - 2
Goals: Eastern-Miranda Konstantinides, 2.
Saves: Cherokee-Courtney Simpson, 11; Eastern-Imani Taylor, 5.
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Contact staff writer Phil Anastasia at 856-779-3223, panastasia@phillynews.com, or @PhilAnastasia on Twitter. Read his blog, "Jersey Side Sports," at www.philly.com/jerseysidesports
