KUA twice comes back from a goal down, defeats NMH 3-2
KUA twice comes back from a goal down, defeats NMH 3-2
In a match that sets an extraordinary tone for quite a season to follow, the JV girls' soccer team traveled to Northfield, MA and stunned the home side 3-2. The game was a back-and-forth affair; a contest that featured two highly competitive and skilled teams. The first half saw early opportunities for the 'Cats, with adroit crosses from wing midfielder Laura Robertello parried away by a talented NMH Goalkeeper. The Hoggers of NMH struck first, with a late first half tally on a quick counter-attack. The ball was struck with force and conviction, and KUA's stellar goalkeeper Rose Abendroth had no chance on the play. Indeed perhaps no 'keeper in the world could have stopped that rocket. The Wildcats shifted to a 3-front to begin the 2nd half. With Freshman phenom Erin Gregory-Davis anchoring a front line that included such blossoming soccer talents as Brittany Kainen, Lexi Nottke and Izzy Hill, and with determined support from midfielders Jill Clark and Tori Chernn, KUA's attack came alive! The Wildcats equalized at 8 minutes of the 2nd half, as Gregory-Davis split the NMH back line and received a lovely through ball on the counter. Gregory-Davis coolly slotted the ball into the right corner of the net before being dragged down by an aggressive NMH center back. Midway through the 2nd half NMH broke through again on a sweet corner kick - a shot that curled in and tucked neatly into the upper 90: again, despite Abendroth's heroic efforts, the ball found the back of the net. The stage was now set. Down 2-1 to a tough team, away from home and with 12 minutes remaining in the match, the Wildcats upped the ante; in fact, the team went all in! From that moment on the girls from the hilltop were all over the NMH back 4 a goalkeeper. And, with 10 minutes left in the match, Erin Gregory-Davis found herself on the end of a 25 yard throw-in from Junior Jill Clark about 10 yards from goal. Gregory-Davis received the ball with her back to goal, pivoted, and drilled a shot into the old onion basket: 2-2!!! But a draw was not enough for this team. Led by the tireless and skilled efforts of Freshman Julia Denny, and buoyed by the athleticism and tenacity of backs Grace Voorhees and Lexi Uryase, Freshman Lexi Nottke found herself on the end of a series of connections and calmly powered home a pretty shot from the just inside the penalty area. 3-2 KUA. The team that had battled back from one-goal deficits on two occasions was not about to let this one get away. With Voorhees, Lizze Palker and Lilly Brownell repelling all sorties from the girls in Maroon, the final whistle finally sounded. If character is a quality best realized through overcoming adversity, this team showed its true character today. The sky is indeed the limit for this talented and gutsy team. 2-0...bring on Proctor!
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