United
Quest Blue
'85 Athena (U-14)
- Fall 1999 Game 2 -
Lost 2-0 vs. United Quest White
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United
Quest Blue |
This page was last updated on October 19, 1999.
Game 2 vs. United Quest White:
The United Quest White is our "sister" team. United Soccer Club has three U-14 Athena teams. The top team (Quest Red) actually "plays up" a year in the U-15 Athena "A" division. The Quest White is the club's second team, and the Quest Blue (us) is United's third team. We've met the Quest White once before, falling 4-2 in the final of the 1999 Canterbury Cup tournament.
All of the players went through the same tryout sessions, both teams attended the same team camp this summer, and many of the players are schoolmates. Both teams know each other pretty well, which makes for a good rivalry.
The Quest White won the recent 1999 Atlanta Cup tournament, and had won their first two regular season games. They are a good team. The Quest Blue's plan was to concede possession but deny open shots, then try to play quick counter-attacks.
As expected, the Quest White had most of the play in the first half, but the Quest Blue was successful in denying any dangerous scoring chances. The defensive plan was working. If the Quest Blue could keep the game scoreless until half-time, anything could happen.
With seven minutes left in the first half, the Quest Blue were called for a foul about forty yards from their own goal. Laura Lovern from the Quest White took the free kick and hit a beautiful high arcing shot just under the crossbar and just over the Quest Blue keeper's hands. This looked like a "Sparky special," but this time it was the other team who pulled it off. This excellent long free kick gave the Quest White a 1-0 lead.
The Quest White struck again four minutes later to take a 2-0 lead. Amy Anzovino (Quest White) got wide open in the midfield. The Quest White had a temporary number advantage and played it perfectly. Amy drew a defender, passed to an open teammate, who drew a defender and passed to Jessica Hutton, who was open just outside the penalty area. Jessica had a clear shot on goal and buried it into the top left corner.
Halftime came with the Quest White up 2-0. This was a little unlucky, because the Quest Blue had only given up one open shot during the run of play. But both Quest White goals were from quality shots, so they earned this lead.
The early stages of the second half was more of the same, with the Quest White controlling much of the play, but the Quest Blue defense never yielded an open shot. Midway through the second half, the Quest Blue started to generate some attacks of their own, and the last 15 minutes was an evenly played game. At one point Amanda intercepted a Quest White pass and sent Jillian on a breakaway. But Quest White sweeper Whitney Marler hustled back and forced Jillian away from the goal and denied a shot.
The Quest White's best chance in the second half came when Jessica Hutton hit a dangerous cross from the right side, but Kallie Law's back-post header was just off-target. Other than that, the Quest Blue defense (various combinations of Meagan, Christina, Charlsey, Lauren and Kaelen) did their job and prevented the Quest White from getting any dangerous chances.
The final score was 2-0 in favor of the Quest White. The Quest Blue made a good showing for themselves, but the Quest White was just too strong an opponent.
Goalies: Sally (1st half), Jessica B (2nd half)
The Quest's fall regular season record is now 0 wins, 1 tie and 1 1oss
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Created: 09/11/99 Revised: 10/19/99 |