MNJYSA game #10 (early play)
On a very crisp autumn evening the WILDCATS arrived at Rock Spring Park with so much energy and giddiness, that one might have suspected that they had eaten ALL their Haloween loot just prior to warm ups !!! The girls were down after last week's performance at Franklin, but were totally psyched to go against a Watchung Freedom team that the have already played twice this season.
The girls started spritely taking the ball right at the Freedom... in the second minute Bri received a clearance and fed the ball to Amy on the left flank. Amy advanced forward toward goal, beat a defender, cut back away from the bye line beat another then released a strong shot to put the Wildcats up 1-0. As often happens when you're so pumped up and strike quickly.. we relaxed, and allowed Watchung right back down the field, had a half clearance through a mis-communication, and gave them an opportunity to get a shot off from a few yards out of the right side of the 18 yard box which sailed just under the bar levelling the score at 1 at the 4 minute mark..
Back even, the time of possession teetered in Watchung's favor as they were getting to the ball first, making good first touches, and instead of containing well we were over-committing and getting beat to the inside too often. Our defense held tough, and we worked our way back into contention.. to the point where the Wildcats started beating the Freedom the ball, and appeared to be playing "mad". The last 10-15 minutes of the first half way ours, and we created a number of opportunities up both flanks and up the middle, but the finish avoided us.
We could have done without the half-time break... we came out flat in the first few minutes and gave Watchung too many looks at goal. Closing on the 10 minute mark, though, the play was back in our favor as it was at the end of the first half. Amy was having a very good game; making numerous runs from the left and right, even starting some from our own half of the field and tearing through 2 and 3 defenders at full speed. On the 14 minute mark Amy received a ball from defense and touched it inside to Lin on the line of the center circle, who touched it forward glanced up and fed a lead pass up the left wing that Amy had never stopeed sprinting for. She touched it ahead with the sweeper closing from the inside and the right back from the outside, but on a speed dribble Amy kept a step ahead of both of them, and as the keeper closed, Amy placed it past her for the go ahead goal.
With the exception of two close calls, the defense and midfield stifled the more urgent advances from the Freedom, and counter attacked quickly with Jules, Reb and Amy. The final whistle blew after 1 minute of stoppage time with the WILDCATS victorious 2-1. The result put the WILDCATS atop the flight alone with 13 pts., although Franklin has 11 pts and a game in hand.
If match balls were given for players of the match, this reporter would give it to Amy, who tore up the field from the left side and the right side today, hustled every second she was out there and played her game of the season. Amy's performance doesn't take away from the rest of the WILDCATS who ALL fought hard as a team to overcome a very talented Watchung team.