SENIOR DAY!!! After Middlebury told us they couldn’t play Homecoming weekend Oct 29, they offered instead to come today; we were delighted at their commitment to come - many times in the past teams have not appeared for this late-season game! Krista, relieved that her knee will heal soon, came, and so did Caris, whose jaw is still wired shut but feels much better now! Eliza’s parents and Rachel’s parents and sister joined us, along with a large group of cheering students! Some sun and warm 20+C/70+F!
We also owe Middlebury gratitude for offering to play us twice - our visit and results earned there during the League-game period must have helped us reach Regionals.
In our attempt to get near their goal, we were called for a foul and Middlebury was awarded a free kick in their third. Ash had a shot saved before she took a corner kick in the first few minutes; Ella had a shot go wide.
Sara had a shot go high just before Ella had a shot saved. A few minutes later, Ella sailed a ball high and over their goalkeeper for our first goal in the 10th minute. Dani had a shot saved before Avery sent a rocketed ball into Middlebury’s net for our second goal.
Our passing was expert, with many give-and-go passes and switching the ball across the field. Avery did her magic again, this time with a high-arching shot from the right side of the field into the upper-right corner of their net.
Mudia had a shot saved before Ash’s free kick went wide. Lizzy also had a shot saved before Kalyn dribbled past defenders and fired a shot that their keeper couldn’t stop. Mudia had a shot go high before Middlebury got a free kick in our third.
Avery had a shot saved before she scored her third goal of the game in the 38th minute on the mid-left side.
After the break, several players switched positions, with Kalā going up top, Mudia right wing, Eliza in center mid and Abby B left mid. Kalā got a shot off within seconds but it was saved. A few minutes later her shot ricocheted off the cross-bar!
Claire’s free kick presented a good chance but it sailed high before Middlebury created a chance that Kelly prevented with a bold save. Kalā and Mudia had shots go wide before Genevieve had one go high.
Ash expertly took three corner kicks and two free kicks - one that curled beautifully to their far post, finding Kalyn, whose shot went wide.
Abby B had a shot go high and Ella a shot wide before Abby B, Genevieve and Ash had shots saved. SO MANY SHOTS!!!
Mudia earned a corner kick taken by Ash; Caitlin’s shot was saved, and Kalā got off one last shot that went wide.
We celebrated the seniors with heart-warming presentations by our players and many hugs! We were so fortunate to have so many AMAZING PLAYERS from the Class of 2023!!!
G: Kelly Rutherford
CD: Kalā Harman, Molly Knox, Kelly Zreloff, Rachel Horne
OD: Aislinn Mitcham, Kate Clark, Sara Pickrell, Daniella Nichols
CM: Claire Meli, Ella Steinhilber, Lizzy Strapp, Avery Jones, Abby Burgess, Abby Headstrom
OM: Eliza Durbin, Kalyn Dawes, Caitlin Evers, Nathalie Maffei
F: Mudia Ikoba, Genevieve Schaefer
Shots 29:1 Saves 1:11
1 Middlebury free kick in their third
2 Ash shot saved
3 Ash corner kick, Ella shot wide
5 Sara shot over
7 Ella shot saved
10 Ella high floater over their keeper -> 1:0
12 Dani shot saved
14 Avery rocket shot -> 2:0
17 Avery high-arching upper-right from right -> 3:0
23 Mudia shot saved
24 Ash free kick in their third, shot wide
25 Lizzy shot saved
27 Kalyn mid-upper above their keeper -> 4:0
28 Mudia shot over
Middlebury free kick in our third
34 Avery shot saved
38 Avery left side -> 5:0
41 Kalā shot saved
44 Kalā shot hit the cross-bar
46 Claire free kick in their third, shot over
47 Middlebury shot saved by Kelly
49 Kalā shot wide
52 Mudia shot wide
53 Genevieve shot over
56 Avery corner kick
60 Avery two corner kicks
66 Ash free kick in their third
Kalyn shot wide
Ash free kick in their third
68 Abby B shot over
69 Ella shot wide
70 Abby B shot saved
73 Genevieve shot saved
79 Ash shot saved
80 Mudia earned a corner kick for Ash to take
Caitlin shot saved
82 Kalā shot wide
