KUA strikes twice to beat Holderness 2-1

KUA Girls Soccer team in their pink "playing for a cure" game shirts took on Holderness today and came out with an exciting 2-1 victory.   In the fourth minute Chelsea Kantola struck a long ball forward hitting Maddy Kenyon in stride as she broke through Holderness' defense. Maddy Kenyon put KUA on the board by striking a left-footed shot neatly into the corner netting. From that point the game turned into a defensive battle.  KUA surged forward often just missing quality scoring opportunities.  Charlotte Herbert hit the crossbar. Maddy Kenyon had two more great chances in the first half hitting near post and then five minutes left in the half driving a second shot off the crossbar.  The second half started and KUA continued to push forward.  Rebeka Spencer's run up the left side ended in a shot off the post. Maddy Kenyon did a nice job creating space to get her shot off all game long but again was thwarted twice hitting the post on both attempts.  The momentum of the game started to shift as Holderness started to combine passes in the middle of the field and hitting forwards with dangerous through passes.  Tori Agel and Maddie Fernsell covered the back well, running down numerous balls and clearing them decisively.  In the 70th minute Holderness finally struck the equalizer on a cross that got behind the defense to a streaking wing who drove the ball past KUA's goalie Lauren Fischelis. As they had all game long both teams pushed to create chances to put in the game winner.  In a quality run forward that reflected her efforts for the whole game Lauren Borislow gathered in a pass from Caysea Benner,  eluded two defenders on her way into the box,and calmly drilled the game winner into the net. Holderness, determined to strike back in the final minute pushed forward and swarmed the goal area on a corner kick that was headed out by Borislow as time ran out. Today's match was the final home game for seven seniors: Borislow, Kantola, Fischelis, Agel, Benner, Taylor Johnston, and Sadie Thompson. The KUA team certainly put on an entertaining show for the home crowd on this day, special in many ways.  KUA travels to New Hampton on Saturday.