The Gilmour Academy varsity girls soccer team finished the penultimate week of the regular season unbeaten as the Lancers gained momentum as they look ahead to the playoffs.
Gilmour won a pair of matches at home to begin the week before coming from behind to earn a draw on the road this past weekend.
With its impressive week, the Lancers surged back above .500 and sit at 7-5-2 entering the final week of the regular season.
Gilmour began the week with a 3-0 victory over Elyria Catholic High School.
The Lancers controlled much of the match against the Panthers, but it took awhile for the hosts to break through. The game was scoreless at halftime and continued to stay that way for the first 15 minutes of the second half, with the Lancers having a number of close calls offensively.
Gilmour broke through with about 22 minutes remaining. With her back to goal at the top of the box, Cooper Flowers '22 turned and played a short diagonal ball to Brooklyn Steiner '24. After taking one touch, Steiner blasted a shot from 10 yards out. The goalkeeper was able to get a piece of it, but the power was too much for her to keep out.
The Lancers would score twice more in the final six minutes of the match to remove all doubt about the outcome.
After playing distributor the first time around, Flowers found the net herself for the second goal. A cross from the left flank was deflected by Steiner, and the ball sat up perfectly for Flowers. She hit it first time and the high shot sailed into the left side of the netting.
Steiner would add her second goal of the game in the closing minutes to set the final margin.
Gilmour then welcomed Western Reserve Academy to Weber Stadium. The Lancers would claim a 2-1 victory over the Pioneers with Elaina Kline-Ruminski '25 and Adeline Nemeth '24 scoring for GA. Steiner added an assist on Nemeth's goal.
Prior to the win over WRA, Gilmour recognized its five-member senior class with an on-field ceremony.
The following Lancer seniors were honored as their parents and school administrators joined to celebrate their achievements: Meghan Bhanoo '22, Aggie Breen '22, Cooper Flowers '22, Abby Minello '22 and Grace Terranova '22.
Gilmour closed the week with a visit to Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin School, a school ranked one spot ahead of the Lancers in the most recent News Herald area rankings.
Gilmour allowed a goal in the 17th minute on a powerful NDCL shot inside the far post and trailed 1-0 at halftime.
With multiple players injured and otherwise unavailable, the Lancers played the entire second half with just one substitute available on their bench.
The Lancers put forth an inspired effort, continuing to fight and battle. Gilmour had a couple of close calls at a tying goal, including a Steiner header off a corner kick that necessitated a goal-line clearance from the Lions.
It looked as though Gilmour's hard work would be unrewarded as the clock wound down, but GA's perseverance finally paid off. Kline-Ruminski surged into the box and was taken down, giving Gilmour a penalty kick.
Steiner stepped up to the spot and drilled it into the lower left corner to level the match with just 95 seconds remaining. Gilmour would hold on for an uplifting draw, their second straight road result.
Stacy Barresi '24 played a large role in the net throughout the week. She made a number of key stops, helping Gilmour allow only two goals in the three matches it played.
Gilmour has two more regular-season matches remaining before it opens postseason action.