Strong Showing at Spring District 2 Cup
The Devils concluded the Spring Season with a fantastic showing at the District 2 Cup, held at Evergreen College last weekend. The Devils won both of their pool games on Saturday, earning the top seed in the playoff round on Sunday, but fell to the Hollister Tremors in a 1-0 nail biter on Sunday.
Pool play started early Saturday morning with an 8:15am game that pegged the Devils against the Central Valley Jaguars. The girls have struggled historically in early morning games, but they came out firing in this contest.
Christene opened the games scoring on a deflection off the goaltender just 8 minutes in. Courtney set up the goal sending a cross from the right corner, after navigating past a defender along the right sideline. As the pass crossed through the box, the Jaguars keeper failed to control the ball. Christene charged up the middle and chipped home the 5-footer for the 1-0 lead.
The Jaguars would answer 5 minutes later on a 35-foot shot from the left side. E, the Devils keeper was lined up with the shot, but the ball skipped on the wet grass then took a crazy hop, redirecting to the right and into the net.
The Devils made it 2-1 on a put back after Grace put a 40-foot shot on goal from the left side. The Jaguars keeper got a hand on the shot, but the deflection bounced right to Courtney, who was positioned on the right side. She would easily deposit the ball for the goal.
Half time was as entertaining as the first half. The girls reported that a gopher popped his head up in the middle of the pitch while play was going on, catching some of the action up close.
The 2nd half of the contest would be highlighted by the defense who snuffed out every Jaguars chance. Audrey played in goal and only handled the ball twice in the entire half. The fullbacks did a great job at anticipating opposing passes and communicating where the ball was being played.
The midfielders controlled the field and setup several scoring chances, including a shot attempt by Marlene that was stopped by the Jaguars keeper with 8 minutes to play.
In the Saturday nightcap, the Devils offense opened up and stormed to a 3-0 win over the Monterey Blizzards. The Devils wasted no time taking the early lead. Kelly punched a 20-foot shot from center-mid that clipped a defender and redirected past the Blizzards keeper for the 1-0 lead, just 2 minutes into the game.
Audrey converted 5 min later on a chip shot from the center of the small box after Courtney sent another beautiful cross from the right side.
Christene started the 2nd half in goal and came up big. A Blizzards free-kick headed for the goal before the keeper gloved the shot on the run. She would make another big save later in the half when another shot found it’s way deep into the box.
Courtney would cap the game’s scoring when she knocked home a 20-foot blast from the top of the box. r Audrey carried the ball up the left side before sliding a pass to her right. Courtney carried the ball up the middle, before firing a shot that sailed over the Blizzard keeper’s head.
The Devils turned in more great soccer on Sunday, but they came up short in the single elimination playoff round. Facing the same Tremors team that they beat in the last regular season game three weeks earlier, Hollister had revenge in mind.
The games were similar in that the Devils held the ball in the Hollister zone for 70% of the game, but Hollister would take advantage of their lone chance deep in the Devils zone. The Devils had plenty of shots on goal, but the Tremors keeper played a huge game.
Jojo would open the shot-fest with a nice attempt from the right side that was gloved in the 3rd minute. Another shot attempt from the right corner that straddled the goal line before hitting the left post 2 minutes later.
Hollister would strike with the game’s only goal on a series of pin balling shots that landed on a right wings foot for a 15 foot bullet 10 minutes into the game. The Devils would put 4 shots on goal before the half closed out, but the Tremor’s keeper stopped everything that came her way.
The Devils continued to control the ball in the 2nd half, but the Tremors played their mids back to preserve the slim lead.
The Devils would get their best chance to score with 3 minutes to play when Grace took a pass at midfield and raced up the gut before putting a 20-foot shot on goal. The shot was a bullet, but once again the Tremors keeper knocked the head-high shot down before snagging the ball to squelch the scoring chance.
The final whistle would sound, ending the Devils run, but the tournament was a big success for the girls. They allowed a paltry 3 goals in 3 games during the weekend, continuing their fantastic defense play. The offense also started to work well with each other, stringing together legitimate scoring chances by placing the ball with precision passing. A fantastic showing all around.
Pool play started early Saturday morning with an 8:15am game that pegged the Devils against the Central Valley Jaguars. The girls have struggled historically in early morning games, but they came out firing in this contest.
Christene opened the games scoring on a deflection off the goaltender just 8 minutes in. Courtney set up the goal sending a cross from the right corner, after navigating past a defender along the right sideline. As the pass crossed through the box, the Jaguars keeper failed to control the ball. Christene charged up the middle and chipped home the 5-footer for the 1-0 lead.
The Jaguars would answer 5 minutes later on a 35-foot shot from the left side. E, the Devils keeper was lined up with the shot, but the ball skipped on the wet grass then took a crazy hop, redirecting to the right and into the net.
The Devils made it 2-1 on a put back after Grace put a 40-foot shot on goal from the left side. The Jaguars keeper got a hand on the shot, but the deflection bounced right to Courtney, who was positioned on the right side. She would easily deposit the ball for the goal.
Half time was as entertaining as the first half. The girls reported that a gopher popped his head up in the middle of the pitch while play was going on, catching some of the action up close.
The 2nd half of the contest would be highlighted by the defense who snuffed out every Jaguars chance. Audrey played in goal and only handled the ball twice in the entire half. The fullbacks did a great job at anticipating opposing passes and communicating where the ball was being played.
The midfielders controlled the field and setup several scoring chances, including a shot attempt by Marlene that was stopped by the Jaguars keeper with 8 minutes to play.
In the Saturday nightcap, the Devils offense opened up and stormed to a 3-0 win over the Monterey Blizzards. The Devils wasted no time taking the early lead. Kelly punched a 20-foot shot from center-mid that clipped a defender and redirected past the Blizzards keeper for the 1-0 lead, just 2 minutes into the game.
Audrey converted 5 min later on a chip shot from the center of the small box after Courtney sent another beautiful cross from the right side.
Christene started the 2nd half in goal and came up big. A Blizzards free-kick headed for the goal before the keeper gloved the shot on the run. She would make another big save later in the half when another shot found it’s way deep into the box.
Courtney would cap the game’s scoring when she knocked home a 20-foot blast from the top of the box. r Audrey carried the ball up the left side before sliding a pass to her right. Courtney carried the ball up the middle, before firing a shot that sailed over the Blizzard keeper’s head.
The Devils turned in more great soccer on Sunday, but they came up short in the single elimination playoff round. Facing the same Tremors team that they beat in the last regular season game three weeks earlier, Hollister had revenge in mind.
The games were similar in that the Devils held the ball in the Hollister zone for 70% of the game, but Hollister would take advantage of their lone chance deep in the Devils zone. The Devils had plenty of shots on goal, but the Tremors keeper played a huge game.
Jojo would open the shot-fest with a nice attempt from the right side that was gloved in the 3rd minute. Another shot attempt from the right corner that straddled the goal line before hitting the left post 2 minutes later.
Hollister would strike with the game’s only goal on a series of pin balling shots that landed on a right wings foot for a 15 foot bullet 10 minutes into the game. The Devils would put 4 shots on goal before the half closed out, but the Tremor’s keeper stopped everything that came her way.
The Devils continued to control the ball in the 2nd half, but the Tremors played their mids back to preserve the slim lead.
The Devils would get their best chance to score with 3 minutes to play when Grace took a pass at midfield and raced up the gut before putting a 20-foot shot on goal. The shot was a bullet, but once again the Tremors keeper knocked the head-high shot down before snagging the ball to squelch the scoring chance.
The final whistle would sound, ending the Devils run, but the tournament was a big success for the girls. They allowed a paltry 3 goals in 3 games during the weekend, continuing their fantastic defense play. The offense also started to work well with each other, stringing together legitimate scoring chances by placing the ball with precision passing. A fantastic showing all around.
Labels: CV Jaguars, Hollister Tremors, MCFC Blizzards, tournament play
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