“We always know where the other person is going to be without saying anything,” Effah said. “Just give a look and we know where to go.”
The familial connection gave host St. John’s its equalizer, and both teams created opportunities for game-winning goals later on, but neither side found a breakthrough during a back-and-forth ending. A rematch of last year’s D.C. State Athletic Association title game — and an early season litmus test for two of the District’s top teams — finished in a 1-1 draw.
Maret (0-0-1) almost avenged last fall’s loss when senior Pao Monter unleashed a shot from distance with five minutes to go. Her strike sailed over the Cadets’ goalkeeper’s head before it hit the crossbar and was cleared away.
St. John’s (0-0-2) responded with an attack of its own, and a deflected cross found junior Nia Dunham unmarked at the top of the penalty box. But her shot crept just wide of the left post with two minutes remaining.
The Frogs matched the Cadets’ offensive output throughout the first half. Early in the second half, they did what they couldn’t do in last season’s contest: take the lead.
Maret won the ball high up the pitch, and Morgan Jackson played a short pass to Jamie Covitz. The senior’s right-footed shot beat an outstretched goalkeeper and found the net via the inside of the post to give the Frogs the lead in their first game of the season.
“We kind of had a little chip on our shoulder from last year,” Maret Coach Kate Murphy said. “We felt like we gave it our all and, you know, St. John’s is always a powerhouse and they always give us a good run for our money, so we kind of wanted to get a little bit of revenge.”
St. John’s, the No. 1 team in The Post’s preseason rankings, had the better of the play after Maret’s tally and created dangerous attacks, one of which resulted in Effah and Heard linking up for the tying goal.
“They have such a competitive nature between the two, so they’re always put on opposite teams [in practice] and are always combative against each other,” Coach Allison Diaz said. “And then, at the end of it, they’re laughing, joking and just having a great time.”
Both teams wanted more after the final whistle. St. John’s was left without a win through two games after going 19-0-1 last season, and Maret had to settle for only a small measure of revenge.
Still, St. John’s and Maret came away believing the matchup would prepare them for their respective Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and Independent School League slates.