East Kentwood Soccer: EK in the News: 2007 Women - East Kentwood comfortable in close games
2007 Women - East Kentwood comfortable in close gamesWednesday, May 9, 2007 by Steve Vedder The Grand Rapids Press
If there was a lull, East Kentwood's soccer team appears to be past it.
The Falcons, who have had to rally to either win or tie three games since April 17, take an 11-0-1 record into tonight's key O-K Red showdown with Hudsonville. While some coaches might worry that a team with as much experience as East Kentwood has had to rely on late rallies. Falcons coach John Conlon looks at coming from behind differently.
"It doesn't bother the players one bit to be behind," he said. "While we're not putting up pretty huge scores, it means that our maturity is much further along. The players stay calm and poised."
The only blemish on the Falcons' record is a 1-1 tie with Holt. East Kentwood has seven shutouts in 12 games, has gone 4-0 in the O-K Red and can put some distance between itself and second place Hudsonville (3-1 in the O-K Red) with a win in tonight's 7 p.m. game at Pat Patterson field. The Eagles are tied with Grand Haven, which East Kentwood has already beaten, for second.
Conlon admits there was a brief period when the Falcons could have played better, but considering the team's recent 2-1 and 5-1 wins over West Ottawa and Mattawan, Conlon thinks the stretch is behind the team.
"We hit a lull for a couple weeks when we weren't playing all that well," he said. "We were winning, but not convincing. But we've picked up the pace the last couple games."
Goalie Jeannette Williams has seven shutouts and she has scored five goals when she has moved to forward late in one-sided games. Morgan Britt has six goals and 11 assists, Jenna Fagerman six goals, Nicole Dulyea three goals and 11 assists and Kara Lovelace five goals and five assists.
Because it is a veteran team, Conlon said he was never concerned with the team's start. Among the team's wins is a 2-1 decision over Forest Hills Central, a team Conlon thinks can contend for a Division 2 state title, and a scrimmage win over Unity Christian, which Conlon believes could win Division 3. Toss in a 1-0 win over Portage Central, the team that eliminated the Falcons in last year's district, and he is content with the start.
"It's true that the scores may not be as high, but the one thing they've done better is they don't get flustered," he said. "We're very poised."