LIONS DOWN PATRIOTS
Lady Lions Dominate in 3-1 Win
Lions Defeat Berkmar 3-2 On Late Goals
February 21, 2012: The Lady Lions dominated out of the starting blocks in their match against the Patriots, while the Boy's team took a little while to get its engine rev'd, but the end results were the same as both teams earned victories over the visiting Patriots at Lion Stadium on Tuesday night.
The Lady Lions had great possession during the first 20-minutes of their match. Katie Fitton and Macy Raines were holding a clinic in the middle of the field while feeding great balls to Courtney Miller, Alana Dineen and Phoebe Palmer up top. Each of the forwards would see excellent looks on goal in the opening minutes of the match. But it was the Patriots that would strike first, with a beautiful free kick that Lion Keeper Nichole Lane got her finger tips on but it ended up in the net any way. "That was just a great shot," said Lion Coach Bill Holleman after the match. "Nichole was there, but the ball was perfectly placed."
The Lion's would come storming back when Palmer's beautiful chip over the Patriot defense found Ashley Balmforth. Balmforth was able to hold off a Patriot defender as she took a low far post shot that beat the Patriot keeper. When it rains it pours, as just 4 minutes later Shelby Jennings found the back of the net with an excellent head ball off a beautiful corner kick by Palmer. "Phoebe was playing some great balls tonight. She figured in the scoring on all three of our goals with some brilliant play making," said a delighted Holleman. The third goal was was again started by Palmer as she found Graham Green streaking down the left sideline. Green unleashed a "seeing-eye" cross that found Balmforth at the back post. Balmforth calmly slotted the ball into the net for her second goal of evening and season. "Ashley played very big for us tonight," commented Holleman. "She is a talented player with an eye for the goal. We are looking for big things from her this year."
Defensively the Lions were solid once again, with Katey Lippitt, Green, Jennings, and Lane working very well together. Good shifts were turned in by Esther Cano, Nicole Misener, Amanda Ferry, Heather Bowman and Natasha Campbell as the Lions did a good job managing to the intensity of the match to keep fresh legs on the field.
In the boy's contest, the Lion's entered the game a little flat. Berkmar made the most of it, taking the early lead on a well executed through ball. The ensuing shot beat Lion keeper Ryan Breon, and the Patriots were up 1-0. Both teams possessed the ball well throughout the first half but neither were able to further capitalize on their chances, with Breon making several excellent saves to keep the Lion's close. The Patriots carried their lead into the half.
In the second half, the Lion's returned to their more typical style of play. "We did a better job in the second half keeping the ball on the floor," said Boy's Coach Ryan Sutton. "That gave our guys some looks they did not get in the first half." At the 11 minute mark, Kevin Zuluaga found Jeremy Rector with a great pass. Rector was able to hold off a defender and chip the keeper to tie the game 1-1 for the Lions. But the Patriots would come right back with a goal of their own to retake the lead 2-1. Video clearly showed that play to be offsides, but with only two officials for this contest, mistakes were inevitable.
With great character and desire, the Lion's would return to the score sheet when Zuluaga squeezed his corner kick between the near post and Patriot keeper to knot the score at 2-2. The goal was Zuluaga's first of the night and second of the season.
The Lion's capped the night and the win when Juan Herrera went into the corner and dug out the ball and slipped by the defense on the base line. He found Rector in the box with a spectacular pass. Rector's finish was true and the Lion's had the lead 3-2.
With 25 minutes left in the match, the Lion's defenders kicked it up a notch and began to combine with the midfielders to relieve any Berkmar pressure. Michael Valenzuela, Michael Hanna, Grayson Guldenschuh, Raul Diaz and Jake Siracusa would not allow second half goalie Daryl Sack to be tested, but for one brilliant shot that Sack was able to steer wide late in the contest. "When Jack left the game, Hanna came in and played well," said Sutton. "We got good work from Sahil Mahajan, Jordan Davis and Marrkus Reese in the second half. Their high pressure and speed added a dimension to the game we were missing in the first half."
The JV Lions play Thursday, February 23, when they take on Norcross at Lion Stadium in their first region matches of the year. The boy's kick it off at 5:30 pm, and the girl's at 7:30 pm.
The next match for the Varsity Lions is on February 28 when they travel to Greater Atlanta Christian. The girl's game is at 5:00 pm, and the boy's play at 7:00 pm. Directions can be found here.
Be There!
Other Lion News
Tag(s): Lions News
