Last modified: Saturday, October 4, 2008 1:51 AM EDT
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| Foxboro’s Avery Fleck sends the ball across the field against King Philip on Friday. (Staff photo by Martin Gavin) |
GIRLS' SOCCER: Foxboro blanks King Philip
FOXBORO - There was no letdown for the members of the Foxboro High School girls' soccer team - right from the opening whistle.
A day after stunning the Hockomock League soccer world with an upset of perennial powerhouse Oliver Ames, the Warriors controlled the ball, created space, put the pressure on and took a 3-0 victory over King Philip at the Booth Playground Friday.
In improving to 4-4-1 overall, 4-3-1 in the Hockomock League, junior midfielder Rachel Jamieson figured prominently in all three Warrior goals, while Foxboro received first half goals from Carley Martyniak and Livia Roma within a four-minute span and never allowed KP to mount an attack.
"Knowing the type of players that we have, I knew that they would compete," said Foxboro coach Caitlin Annicelli, whose Warriors are unbeaten in their last three (2-0-1) matches - and all four losses have been by one-goal margins.
"We knew that KP is a good team, a talented team," added Annicelli. "The Foxboro girls have been working really hard and we wanted to put pressure on them all over the field."
Foxboro's backline defenders Melissa Ellard, Cayleigh Lincoln, Livia Roma and Gianna Roma were steadfast in denying KP much space or shots. In truth, KP had merely one corner kick during the first half and only one shot at Foxboro goalie Chelsey Laracy - a right-footed drive off the toe of Jen Turner off the left wing in the 35th minute.
In the meantime, Foxboro pressured KP goalie Alex Ceven and the Warrior defense repeatedly, mustering eight shots on goal and four corner kicks in the opening 40 minutes.
Jamieson set up Foxboro's go-ahead goal with a run down the right flank, crossing the ball into the right side of the penalty box area where Martyniak launched a drive to the left side.
Jamieson set up Foxboro's second goal as well. Kristen Hoffman addressed a corner kick from the left corner, which Jamieson headed the ball onto net, Ceven making the save. However, the loose ball came to Roma, who immediately sent it into the back of the KP net.
"She's one of the most competitive people I know, she's a phenomenal player," said Annicelli of Jamieson, who scored the Warriors' third goal, that at 66:46 - once again Hoffman sending the ball into the penalty box area. "Rachel makes things happen."
Stoughton 1, No. Attleboro 0
NORTH ATTLEBORO - The Rocketeers generated 15 shots, eight on goal and four corner kicks, but were unable to get on the scoreboard in losing the Hockomock League game to the Knights.
Alicia Macomber scored for Stoughton at the 33-minute mark of the first half, making a run down the right wing, crossing into the penalty box area and stuffing a shot in the lower right corner of the North net.
North had its best chance to take the lead in the eighth minute when midfielder Alex Rousseau belted a shot off the crossbar. The Rocketeers limited Stoughton to just seven shots and two corner kicks overall. North (2-5-2, 2-4-2 Hockomock) visits Mansfield Monday night (6 p.m.).
Mansfield 2, Sharon 1
SHARON - Also in the Hockomock League, Amanda Cunningham set up a goal and scored the game-winner as the Hornets remained undefeated in league play.
With the win, first-place Mansfield moved to 5-0-2.
Cunningham had a foot in on both MHS goals with her corner work. Her corner set up Kelsey Alexander's tally at 31:20 of the first half as Alexander banged home a rebound to get Mansfield on the board. Sharon, however, tied things off of a corner nonetheless, late in the first half to tie things at 1-all.
Then, in the second half, it was Cunningham again as she followed up her own corner kick and potted the game-winner, that with 8:31 gone in the half.
"That's what you're taught to do after the kick, to take space, and it just so happens the ball ended up on her foot and she made a nice play for the goal," said Mansfield coach Kevin Smith.
Mansfield outshot Sharon 20-3 for the game but Eagle goalie Hillary Stepanski was solid with 11 saves. Erin Bruno at sweeper and Ally Nagle act center mid were solid for Mansfield, as was goalie Jacki McPherson, who was involved in the play despite not registering a save.
Mansfield hosts North Attleboro on Monday. |