PW at Rustin.

2-1 Rustin win.

Scoring:
With five minutes remaining in first half, Maddie McGuckien goal off of a Maddi Lazaroff assist.

1-1 half

Comments:
PW closed a difficult week out at the defending 3A District Champs, West Chester Rustin. Rustin scored first off a free kick. With five minutes remaining in the first half, Maddie McGuckien scored her 6th goal of the season off of a Maddi Lazaroff corner.

This was a terrific soccer game with both teams battling in the hot sun.

With the score 1-1 and 3:38 remaining in the second half, the referee stopped play and the clock for an injured PW player. He escorted our player off of the field. The Rustin team went to their bench for water. I asked the ref after he escorted our player off the field to our bench if we could have a water break, as well. He said "yes you can" and signaled for our team to approach our bench.

Approximately 12 seconds later, the Rustin coach began inquiring to the official as to why we had a water break. Our water break, in front of our bench, was in our offensive half of the field.

After the Rustin coach complained, the official blew his whistle for us to reenter play. The clock was still stopped. Our players began returning to field of play. 7 seconds after the ref blew his whistle for us to exit the water break - he allowed Rustin to throw the ball into play. We had the keeper and one player behind the ball. Rustin received a 3 on 1 breakaway and scored.

From when the water break was granted, 26 seconds passed before he allowed Rustin to throw the ball into the field of play.

This can all be clearly seen on film, on fan.hudl.com.

An extremely unfortunate way for this terrific game to end. It is a real shame for our players to suffer their first loss of the season in this manner. The game should be settled on the field. The game should not be settled by an official granting a water break, 19 seconds later, blowing his whistle for our team to return, and 7 seconds later allowing Rustin to throw the ball in.

I'm extremely proud of our team for how they played today, playing 3 games against Abington, Upper Dublin, and Rustin within a span of 75 hours. Our players deserved better today than what transpired on the field.