Wildcats hold Defensive Line

Isabella R. Price
Although the Wildcats ultimately lost to the Hoggers by a second goal scored in the end of the second half, KUA beat back repeated assaults through a strong team front. Kimball Union Academy hosted Northfield Mount Hermon on a warm cloudy day after the opponents had driven north for an hour from northern Massachusetts. The Hoggers immediately opened with strong footwork, pushing forward on the offensive. KU's goalie and veteran sophomore Jenna Santos maintained a strong presence throughout the first half with four saves, as did freshman Indigo Kopp on net in the second half, with five saves. Thankfully, many of the Hoggers arched shots landed above or behind Jenna's net. Thankfully, Jenna also successfully saved a ball while soaring vertically. 

Rooting the defensive line of the Wildcats in front of the net, Shannon Moran and Kate Mackey provided strong support for forward movement. Along the sides of the field, freshman Kate Rybakova and junior Nikki Petrescu-Boboc cleared side attacks through relentless hustle. In the opening minutes of the game, junior defender Haley McNamara provided a key fake and cross kick that cleared the back field of yet another assault. Kopp also launched a strong put out of the backfield at an important juncture. 

Transfer Lexy Gray blocked many shots with chest passes, headers, and knee stops, and she helped hustle back on defense in conjunction with Margot Frost, who provided pressure along the side.  Upperclassman Sofia Garner also blocked attacks and looked to move the ball forward to offensive territory.

In the second half of the game with Kopp at the net, she provded a key save in holding KU"s presence and followed it with a lofty punt for the distance.  However, NMH scored a goal soon after on a breakaway steal at the midfield line. The Hogger's strong offensive attacks continued. KU worked to settle in, finding spaces with openings and soon after the sun came out behind the clouds. Co-captains Molly Beaupre and Maddy Haynes continued to pass and attack well, and benefited from Santos taking a turn on the open field as a defender, particularly when Santos lined Haynes up for a punt from half field, only to have Santos' attempted assist score a goal with a soaring toe kick.

Sophomore Ellie Stedina also made numerous runs up field looking for offensive attacks with her fellow front fielders. Nevertheless, minutes before the end of the second half, despite Kopp's aggressive saves and Mackey's strong power and placement, the Hoggers made a run on the goal from midfield and punted the ball into the top of the net. The Wildcats will be taking on the Dublin School from southern NH this Saturday and the sun will be out once again for another Wildcat victory.
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