Peachtree Ridge Lions Soccer

Lady Lions Top Aiken 5-1

VIDEO HIGHLIGHTS

On Friday, the Varsity Girls rolled into Aiken and stung the Lady Hornets 5-1.  Quality, consistent ball movement was too much for the Hornets.  The scoring started in the 30^thminute of the first half when Shelby Jennings played a beautiful ball over the top of the Hornet defense right into the path of a charging Olivia Hall, who was breaking in toward goal from the left side.  At a difficult angle, Hall put the ball into the side netting, beating the keeper low to her left with an excellently placed shot.  As the first half was winding down, Shelby Jennings was at it again as she played another brilliant ball, this time to Emily Edmond who was at full stride in the middle of the field at the 18-yard line.  Edmond was marked tightly by a Hornet midfielder who was with her stride for stride.  Applying the perfect touch, Edmond beat both the Hornet defense and keeper as she slotted the ball into the corner for a 2-0 Lion lead.

The Lion’s third goal of the game was a brilliant through ball played by Libby Callaway between two Hornet defenders and into the space in front of a strong run being made by Phoebe Palmer.  Palmer beat the defense to go one-on-one with the keeper, and timed her chance perfectly as she beat the keeper low to her right side for the 3-0 lead.  

Phoebe Palmer goes to goal for Lions 3^rd goal of the contest

After a scramble in the box on an Aiken corner kick led to the only Hornet goal of the match at the 19:00 minute mark of the second half, the Lion’s returned the favor less than one minute later.  Some strong work by Wendy Palmer on defense thwarted a rush by the Hornets, and forced a throw-in by the Hornets deep in Lion territory.  Shelby Jennings gathered the ensuing throw-in and played a nice outlet pass to Callaway who was streaking up the left side.  Callaway immediately released the ball to Dineen, who had found some space at midfield.  Dineen turned and split two hornet defenders with a perfect through ball, where a well timed run by Phoebe Palmer found her once again one-on-one with the Hornet keeper.  Her perfect shot left the Hornet keeper no chance as the ball ricocheted off the left post and into the goal for the 4-1 lead.  

The final goal of the match was scored on a strong counter-attack by the Lions.  From a Hornet free kick, the Lions gained control and a quick outlet pass by Katey Lippit found Wendy Palmer in the middle of the field.  Palmer turned and beat her mark, and played a beautiful ball through the Hornet defense.  Olivia Hall somehow found the speed late in the match to come from 10-yards behind two defenders to beat them to the ball.  Her precision shot with her left foot back against the flow of the play found the back of the net and sealed the victory for the Lady Lions.

Olivia Hall wins a foot race late in the game to score the Lions final goal.

“This was a great effort by our girls,” said Coach Bill Holleman.  “It is fun to watch good teams play soccer, individuals contribute, but teamwork makes good teams.  It is nice to see them coming together as we set our sights on region play over the next couple of weeks”