Last Game, Last Win of the Season
The Kimball Union Wildcats traveled down to Concord, NH to play the St. Paul’s Pelicans in their final game of the season. The team had not played a competitive game in a week and a half and they were excited to get back on the pitch. After a chilly warm up, both teams took the turf. The WIldcats created the pace for the game and the Pelicans took a little while to catch up. Within in the first few minutes of the game, Kelly Benson carried the ball down the field and shot once she was in the circle. The goal created a resounding bang off of the wooden boards. Benson scored the next goal in a 2 v keeper situation; Katie Ayers ran down the field alongside Benson making it difficult for the goalkeeper to defend the shot. The Pelicans scored near the end of the half making it 2-1.
As the temperatures dropped, the 11 Wildcats stepped onto the field for the second half. They continued to dominate play by bringing the ball up the right side and up the left side by Hattie Kahl, supported by captain Yiwen Xu. Hanna Wiczek and Ellie Copeland-Clarke played a strong midfield on the right side keeping the ball out of their zone. Ayers scored the third goal for the Wildcats on a corner. Wiczek shot the ball in, Benson redirected it and it hit the post and Ayers connected with it to score. The Wildcat defense maintained the lead. Captain Sunny Sun led the defensive line with aggressive steps to ball and constant perseverance. Aleena Masaeng, Tess Boden and Alexa Lambert timed their block tackles and jabs to gain possession. Nathaly Verde was a wall on defense, not letting the Pelicans take a shot. Of the shots, goalie Amelia Keith made 3 saves. The Wildcats finish the season 7-3, one of the best records for the team in recent memory.
