Fall 2008 - MNJYSA game #5
Cranford came to Long Valley in second place in the flight, one place ahead of the Wildcats, with the same points total, but a game in hand. The Strikers arrived early and were drilling 45 minutes before kick-off and looked ready and focused to bring it to us. Our referee for today's game is a top class player for Montclair State University and is one of coach Hutton's men's team players, so we knew that he would allow play to flow, and that it would be a physical battle. The conditions were great for the players and the fans... sunny, dry, and warm, and the pitch was in great shape.
We started with the sun in Lin's eyes, but the Wildcats were aiming to make that a non-factor by keeping the ball in Cranford's end. On the seven minute mark, Amy broke through the defense and released a powerful shot from just inside the 18 the went over the advancing goalie, but just stayed a little high and smashed the crossbar, and rebounded back to the keeper who fumbled it out for a corner. The play was physical, and with each hard challenge by the Cranford defenders and middies the Wildcats became more determined to win the ball. The pressure was primarily in the Cranford end, but 25 minutes in the Striker's right winger made a nice run and crossed a high ball to the center of the six yard box. Lin came out swiftly and grabbed the balled out of air from between two Cranford forwards. Lin started a quick counter-attack with a punt up the half, that Hannah received and released Syd up the middle, resulting in a shot that was handled by their keeper. Cranford came right back down, and were awarded a direct free kick about 12 yards outside the penalty area in the center of the field. Cranford's tall strong center midfielder stepped up and launched a powerful and high shot on net that dipped just under the bar, virtually impossible for Lin to stop.. she could only get her fingertips on the ball; 1-0 Cranford. The Wildcats stepped up their intensity even more after the Cranford goal, that was against to flow of play. With seven minutes left in the half Syd lifted a perfectly weighted diagonal lead pass that Reb was running onto, and collected in stride. Reb advanced ten more yards, cut inside to put the ball on her right foot, then released a curving shot to the far post that only missed by inches, but the half ended with the Wildcats down 1-0.
At the half the Wildcats voiced their frustration at being down a goal when they felt they were playing well, and psyched themselves up to fight even harder in the second half. The Wildcats did what they set out to.. from the whistle at the beginning of the half they went harder into every challenge, ran harder to balls, and just stepped up every aspect of their games. Their hard work paid off five minutes in when Paige drove the left side of the penalty area and passed to the middle to lead Syd, who calmly first timed the ball back against the keeper's momentum to tie the game at ones. Keeping the pressure on the Wildcats kept driving forward, and four minutes after their first goal Hannah received a ball at the top of the "D" and switched it out to Mattie on the right side of the 18. Mattie touched once then lofted a shot to the far post that eluded the keeper and dropped into the back of the left side of the goal to give the Wildcats a 2-1 lead.
The game continued to be very physical, and the Wildcats kept up the fight creating a lot opportunities.. especially in the last 10 minutes, they were relentless... Reb won a ball from the Cranford right back and shot just wide; Syd lofted a probing ball forward that Jules ran onto and shot just over the bar; Amy, Hannah, Bre, Jordan, Paige, Mattie, Reb, Jules and Syd all kept winning balls and advancing forward and keeping the ball in Cranford's defensive third. Cranford's only real chances in the second half was a long free kick that Lin grabbed, and in added time at the end of the game a deflected shot went out for a corner, but the Wildcats cleared the ball well.
The game ended in a 2-1 victory for the Wildcats, who leapfrogged the Strikers in the standings to move into second place. This was a real team effort... with no defensinve subs, Rachel Andy Chelsea and Liz did a great job all game anticipating, fighting for the balls, standing strong and keeping the ball away from our goal to make it a relatively trouble free day for Lin. GREAT JOB GIRLS !!!
GO WILDCATS !!!