opened the season yesterday at Millbrook, a lovely rural field procured by
and lined by Kathy Harvey. She also lugged our gorgeous new jerseys up to
the shady bench. Massive thanks to our captain for designing the jersey and
sealing the Pro-Activity sponsorship for our team. You are the BEST, Harv!
We pulled on the racerback super cool jerseys and started with 11 players,
though we had trouble counting and thought we were 12. Soon Krissy and Kara
and Lisa got there and we were 14.. One of our new players, Kelly, suited up
for us for the first time. Welcome, Kelly!
Right away we set the pattern for the match and pinned a young and fast
Piscataway team in their own end for long periods, but when push came to
shove, sometimes literally, we failed to put the ball in the net. Shots
sailed high or wide or were scooped up by their excellent gk. Meanwhile,
back in the back, the defense and Super LJ contended with the fast counters
and pile on offense featured by this team. They got the first goal after
about 12 minutes against the run of play when they played a ball over the
top, beat the trap, and chipped/bypassed a stranded LJ. Nonetheless, we
fashioned the perfect response- a goal within 2 minutes of our own, finished
by Linda. I wish I could remember who sent the pass through because it was a
spot on through ball. Play continued in this vein for the bulk of the half-
we kept on shooting or sometimes having our moves break down with harmless
overshot through balls quickly snuffed by the gk, and Piscataway kept on
running and testing the trap. Heather had some marvelous crosses, but we
seldom got the ball to Erin on the left. With about 12 minutes to go in the
half, Piscataway had one girl offside on our left but the middie ran through
from an onside position onto the ball and had all day pretty much to shoot
and score.
We decided at the half to play the wide defenders wider and try to play the
ball more to feet. But the big activity at half was LJ trying to move her
haircut appointment to Thursday so she could stay! She succeeded in moving
it back, but could only stay for 30 of the 45 minutes. The second half we
shot and shot and shot, but did not finish. Their gk made two great saves
and LJ had one of her own, just getting down in time to stop a ball that was
threatening to go under her. Erin got through on the left and she blasted
that sucker- somehow saved. Krissy had two free kicks go close. Meanwhile,
back in the back, Lindsay and I were having a fine time with the counters-
and I spoke testily to the little blonde girl to get her hands off my new
jersey! Angel was playing center mid and doing very well. Heather went in
goal with 15 minutes left and she made a couple of great saves and she was
quick off her line to prevent shots. We pressed and we tried but we didn't
get the goal. Cheryl said, "Come on guys we need two goals in this last 30
seconds." It was not to be, but we played well and could have won this game
10-2 if we had been more accurate. We fashioned a slew of chances.
Squad- LJ, Kerry, Krissy, Lindsay, Hines-y, Mare, Kelly, Harv, Er, Heather,
Linder, Cher, Lisa, Angel
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