CGA claims 2-1 win over
Rockies
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| Plymouth goalkeeper Lizzy Hoffer (left) looks to break up a scoring opportunity by CGA’s Jenna Iwaniec (left) as Plymouth’s Kristin Calvert (6) looks to help her teammate. While Iwaniec didn’t score on this attempt, she later scored the first goal of the game en route to the 2-1 win. Pilot Photo/Anthony Gadson |
CULVER - The differential between the shots on goal
by Plymouth (6) and those by the Culver Girls Academy (18) may have lead
one to believe the Eagles handled the Lady Rockies last night in Culver.
But in reality, CGA had to hold on to claim the 2-1 win.
“We only had 17 minutes of possession in the first half, and we'll
usually have 22 minutes of possession,” Plymouth coach Curt Feece said.
“That's an indicator. We just need to settle down, and realize we can
still play soccer with any of these guys. They just outhustled us in the
first half.”
In that first half, CGA attempted 10 shots on goal, while Plymouth only
managed two, the first coming with only 5:15 left in the half.
“I think we were very, very hesitant in the beginning of the game,”
Feece said. “We were playing off them on defense, giving them too much
space.”
Though it wasn't because of a lack of defensive pressure, CGA actually had
the first chance to get onto the scoreboard. With 7:50 left in the first
half, CGA sophomore Jenna Iwaniec took a free kick from five yards outside
of the goalkeeper's box, only to see it clang off the crossbar. The shot
was the closest either team got to getting on the scoreboard, as the half
ended in a 0-0 tie.
Six minutes into the second half, Iwaniec had her
redemption. At the 34:04 mark in the second, Iwaniec took a pass from
junior teammate Ana Tosi, and shot it past Plymouth goalkeeper Lizzy
Hoffer, putting CGA on top 1-0.
Following that goal, CGA struck again six minutes later when junior Kelly
Alyea crossed over a Rockies defender in front of the goal. With the
defender out of the way, it was a one-on-one with Hoffer, which Alyea won,
giving the Eagles the 2-0 lead.
“The CGA program has come so far in such a small amount of time,”
Feece said. “They're tough.”
Down 2-0, Plymouth once again struggled to get shots, their first of the
second half coming with 7:44 remaining. However, the offense picked it up,
resulting in goal by freshman Brandi Witmer with 5:37 remaining, cutting
the CGA lead to 2-1.
“We kind of let them back in the game,” CGA coach Harry Canellakis
said. “It would have been nice to put it away a little bit earlier,
making it easier on ourselves. But I was really happy with the way we
played, especially the way we passed the ball.”
Plymouth kept the pressure on the rest of the way,
but just couldn't get the ball into the goal again.
“We're always happy to beat Plymouth, because they're a good team,”
Canellakis said. “I was really happy with how our team played. It seems
like we're peaking at the right time of the year.”
The win left CGA with a 6-3-3 record, with the team going 4-1-2 in its
last seven matches.
“We kind of designed our fitness program to be peaking at the end of the
year, for sectionals,” the CGA coach said.
Even with the loss, Feece was pretty pleased with his team's effort,
especially after defeating NorthWood 3-2 the previous night in Northern
Lakes Conference action.
“I feel very confident going into the sectional,” he said. “I feel
very confident going against South Bend John Adams next week.”
CULVER GIRLS ACADEMY 2, PLYMOUTH 1
At Culver
Second Half
C - Jenna Iwaniec (Ana Tosi) 47th minute.
C - Kelly Alyea 51st minute.
P - Brandi Witmer 74th minute.
Shots on Goal: CGA 18; Plymouth 6.
Saves: CGA 3 (Bisi Ibrahim); Plymouth 12 (Lizzy Hoffer, Nikki Butcher).
Records: CGA 6-3-3; Plymouth 6-4-5.
JV Score: Plymouth 1, CGA 0.