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Last updated
05-21-09 06:54 AM
 
Green Hope Falcons
Webmaster
2500 Carpenter-Upchurch Road
Cary, North Carolina
27519
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Apex Cougars vs |
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Green Hope Falcons |
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Game Played 5/8/2009 6:00PM
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Falcons soar to conference championship; defeat Apex, 3-1
This game was our final conference step that the program needed to make.
Up till now, we have always been the 2nd team to Apex. They are certainly a deserving target to chase, but even though we finally beat them last year, we still lost the first seed to them. We were the Co-Conference champs with them last year, as we are this year, but last year, when it came down to a final game for 1st seed, we fell. This year, we finally broke through, and were able to beat them for the 1st seed.
We knew what we had done wrong in the past. Apex has, and is, able to be physical when they need to, and as a result, are an extremely aggressive team. We've had great skill in the past, but not the mentality to beat them at that game. This year, we have been working on finishing up attacks, and the physical side of the game. That side started with Leesville, a very physical team, where after the 1st 10 minutes, both teams were equal. And after many training sessions, we are finally finishing off our attacks.
We started this game pretty well, and had started putting pressure on the defense. Apex started taking us down, and 15 minutes in, we had our 3rd free kick within 35 yards of goal. Ashley Stokes had been dominating the left side, and broke free about 25 yards in, when she was taken off her feet. Reilly Brown, who has been great with these chances all season, struck the ball in, giving us the lead.
Anya Koren went in immediately after, and continued her hot streak from the Athens Drive game. For the past week, she has given us great play off the bench, bringing a different style to the attack. Maria Rodriguez hit a pass inside to the top of the penalty box, which Anya one timed into the upper 90 of the net. She had been playing so well that when Ashley Stokes was taken down again, this time in the box, we gave Anya the penalty kick. She placed it perfectly to make it 3-0.
We had moved the ball well all half, and got a bit away from it with the last 10 minutes, but our defense was able to hold. It got a bit chippy at central mid, where both Ashley Shaffer and Maria Rodriguez had some frustration with the fouls, but both controlled themselves. They, along with Jordan Vezina, have made central mid a constant strength for us. They are keeping our team running.
The second half saw Apex sneak one in, off an interesting foul against Haley Patsey while shielding the ball. We defended the free kick well, something the ladies did wonderfully all game (taking away one of Apex's biggest strengths), but had it bounce out 30 yards or so, which an Apex player hit it with just enough distance to have it slide under the crossbar. That one time aside, the defense was outstanding. Defenders Rachel Wells, Haley Rafols, Michaela Clark, Caitlin Messina, Emily Dunn, Haley Patsey, and of course Morgan Burk, gave us this win, from positions that never get the credit they deserve.
We go into States against Southeast Raleigh, Wednesday at 6:30. They are a team we cannot look past if we hope to advance. Senior night will take place before the game, and we will likely be missing Ashley Stokes, and hope to get her back next game. Aside from that, this team is playing well right now, and peaking at the right time. The only way to keep this run going is to win against Southeast Raleigh, and we hope to be up to the task.
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