H O N O N E G A H G I R L S S O C C E R
[NIC-9 CONFERENCE]
Starting Lineup: Courtney Shelton (c), Taylor Scott, Sabina Welcher, Sam Welcher, Vicki Booth, Natalie Johnson, Katie Fluegel, Danielle Mathieu,
Kelsey Carroll (c), Kate Young, Taylor Giedd
Non-starters: Becca Marion, Tiphanie Truax, Ana Hayes, MacKenzie Kelling, Maggie Blackburn, Kelsey Mathieu
Result: 2-2 (2OT) final; 1-1 halftime
Team Record: 3-0-1 overall; 1-0-1 (NIC-9)
v. Hononegah. It had all the pregame drama and tension of a title match, and the ladies were anxious to just let their play do the talking and get the
game underway. Being the first opponent so far this season that would put us under extreme pressure, the team was fully aware of what to expect and
how to combat it. The game started as expected with Boylan attacking immediately off the kickoff, putting pressure on the Hononegah goal and testing
the ladies right off the bat. A defensive lapse on the part of Boylan nearly provided the opening goal, but sophomore Vicki Booth's 1v1 attempt went just
to the right of goal with only the keeper to beat. The opening goal of the match would be the first goal conceded by our defense in three matches, and
put the ladies down for the first time as well after 15 minutes of play. How this young but Varsity experienced team would respond to this situation was
the key to this match in the coaches mind going in, so now we would find out. The first shot on goal from our attack would not happen until 22 minutes
in, but at the 30 minute mark, junior Danielle Mathieu played a ball over the top of the Boylan defense. Junior captain Kelsey Carroll came charging in
from the weakside to beat the goalkeeper to the ball and headed home from 10 yards out to notch the score at 1-1. The first ended with chances for
both sides goind astray. Halftime score: 1-1. At the half, the ladies were encouraged to dig in their heels defensively, but find the coutner opportunities
that would present themselves when Boylan got caught up field. The second half began much the same way the first half did with Boylan keeping
pressure on the Indian's goal. The 2nd goal would come of a deflected save by junior goalkeeper and captain Courtney Shelton, who then save the
2nd attempt on goal, only to have the ball not cleared away and providing Boylan their second goal of the match. The ladies took little time to equalize
when a high service into the penalty area found freshmen Taylor Giedd waiting to flick it past the Boylan backline and just right of the stranded
goalkeeper. Back to a tie game it went. Each team battled the through rest of regulation, and then on into two 10 minute overtime periods. It was
evident by the later stages of the 2nd half that both teams started to suffer from some fatigue. The ladies bent and bent but never broke for the rest of
the match, and our entire team defense - most notibly our backline and goalkeeper - should be commended for such a brave and courageous display.
The game plan was to deny the opposition their scoring opportunities and take advantage of the mistakes that they would provide... needless to say, it
just happen to pan out that way. Personally, as a coach, I am most appreciative of the ladies passing this test, but mostly I am proud of our resolve to
fight back and never let up!!! An amazing display! As the ladies were instructed prior, "the opposition wants 'their' trophy back, but you need to show
them that WE are not willing to give it up!!!". Truer words have not been spoken after watching their performance. Ice cream is on me, girls!!! Next up our annual encounter with IHSA Class A final four contestants, Rockford Lutheran.~ Coach Eiss
[NON- CONFERENCE]
Starting Lineup:
Non-starters:
Result:
Team Record: