MNJYSA game #10 (8th game played)
Following a strenuous try-out yesterday morning, then lacrosse games for most yesterday afternoon, the Wildcats were set to play Parsippany twice today, in a home & away double-header, to make up our spring-break game. With only three games remaining, being in first place and playing the team in last place twice, the Wildcats were a little giddy before the game.
The game started spritely with the ball moving to the Parsippany end, and after a few minutes of pressure the ball rebounded to Reb who shot hard, but the ball deflected for a corner that we couldn't capitalize upon. The Mustangs absorbed the pressure well for about 10 minutes then started a surge of their own which forced a decent near post save by Lin on 11 minutes. Clearing up-field the ball was fed to Piage who made a nice move to get off a left foot shot that went just wide.
The rest of the half was fought in the middle, with neither team pressuring the others' goal, leading to a 0-0 scoreline at the half.
The second half started with a flurry from Parsippany, but again real pressure in from of net. The flow was back and forth with Jules getting off a left foot shot from the 18 that was saved easily by the Parsippany keeper in the 11th minute. About 5 minutes later the Mustangs came down, and were kept out of the area, but their mid-fielder released a high floating ball towards goal that troubled Bre and unfortunately deflected in for a Mustang lead.
The Wildcats were frustrated by the physical play of the Mustangs defenders, and were additionally pressed because this was the first time they had been down in a game since the first game of the season. Parsippany seemed to bring everyone back, making it very difficult to create opportunities, but Paige got a decent shot off on 20 minutes that deflected for a corner, and Bri got one off on 25, but that would be all the chances that we could muster, as the game ended in the Wildcats first defeat of the season.
After the game the girls were very upset because they thought that the loss had ruined their chances to win the flight, but the coaches had a surprise for them. After letting them feel bad for a couple of minutes, coach John told the girls that a mid-week result from two other teams, meant that there was no way any other team could catch the Wildcats (even if we had lost our last 3 games) and that they were flight champs for the third season in a row. Needless to say, the mood changed.. and the girls were pumped for immediate revenge as we were driving down to Parsippany to play the Mustangs later in the afternoon on their home soil.
GO WILDCATS !!!