This article originally ran at www.theclackamasprint.com. Too see the original, click here.
David Beasley, Sports Editor
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Volume 47, Issue 2
Sports
The sun was shining on OC’s Pioneer Stadium last Wednesday afternoon. The Clackamas women’s soccer team beamed just as brightly with a 3-0 win against the Lakers of Southwestern Oregon Community College.
The Cougars attacked often, but couldn’t find clear shots. No. 4 Khadijah Kirkland made her way up-field early in the game and sent a nice cross in front of the Lakers goal but it went out. The Cougars continued to attempt offensive plays but the Lakers' goalkeeper Cassidy Crandall defended well. Crandall snatched a straight shot from No. 2 Hope Butler in the opening stanza.
Early in the first half, the plays were aggressive, but lacked set-up. Janine Szpara, the Cougars' head coach was on it, she instructed the team to use better tactics.
“Guys, stop running forward all the time, switch!” shouted Szpara.
Butler drove forward and passed to No. 8 Megan Luckenbach who found the ball right in front of goal. With the first of her two attempts at the beginning, Luckenbach shot, but Crandall denied the score. No. 17 Claudia Flores took two consecutive shots during the first half. The first attempt was halted with a save by Crandall and the next went just barely too wide. Later, Flores had a third attempt with a long shot, but it went too high.
After a foul by the Lakers, No. 5 Marci Haynes took a free kick for the Cougars that lobbed over the defense, but Crandall defended the follow-up. Shortly after, No. 11 Tahni Harr found herself in position to launch a long shot that missed, just barely too wide of the Lakers' goal. Goalkeeper Melanie Trumbull’s voice rang out clear from the opposite side of the field as her team marked-up for the Lakers' goal kick.
“Get to the ball first, you better get that ball first,” yelled Trumbull.
No. 20 Tori Roberts hustled in response to of Trumbull’s rallying cry. Roberts struck her third and best goal attempt of the first half. It was a solid shot, but went just wide and hit the outside of the net. After the Lakers next goal kick, No. 19 Olivia Thoroughman drove the ball to the penalty box, but Crandall stepped-up and defended the Lakers' goal aggressively.
The Lakers were able to take the action back to the Cougars' side of the field. Trumbull defended the resulting attack. The Cougars regained the offensive and towards the end of the first half, No. 9 Stephanie Corea struck a nice shot, but the tenacious Crandall saved it. The Lakers' goalkeeper seemed to home-in on everything the Cougars tried to slip past her. Crandall aggressively intercepted a pass to No. 10 Hristy Prado, then another long shot by the Cougars.
Although the Cougars controlled most of the first half, the Lakers' defense was enough to keep the score 0-0 at halftime.
At just 00:36 into the second half, No. 24 Taija Channel scored the first goal of the game.
“I didn’t play the first half, so I wanted to come out strong and make an impact on the team,” said Channel.
That was all the impact the Cougars needed to pick up steam. They were ahead, but continued to press forward retaining a tight hold on the 1-0 lead in the second half. Corea took another impressive shot, but Crandall saved it again. Flores stayed savvy as she attempted a couple more shots in the second half. Flores received a spot-on pass for her last attempt and Crandall just barely managed to save it.
The Cougars were still on the attack. At 69:00 on the official time, No. 12 Mecca Williams assisted a pinpoint shot by Butler for the second goal of the afternoon.
“Mecca did a really nice diagonal ball which was what we talked about at half,” said Butler. “Taija had a first-touch (to Williams) which allowed me to split the defense.”
Still hungry for points in the final minutes and using smart positioning, Butler ran the ball towards the goal but Crandall defended. The Cougars still commanded a dominant lead of 2-0. Roberts had three goal attempts in the second half and at 89:00 on the clock, she assisted an excellent open shot on goal by Luckenbach. Her shot scored and the Cougars finished out the game with a 3-0 victory over the Lakers.
“I saw Tori, she gave a good ball right in the air to me, I took a good first-touch that set me up for the goal,” said Luckenbach. “There was a defender on my right side so I had to battle to get in front of her. The whole right side of the goal was open, so I took the shot.”
Last Wednesday was not only a convincing win for the team, but the ninth shutout this season for goalkeeping magician Trumbull. Crandall of the Lakers managed to grab 10 saves. The Cougars were still top of the South region after Wednesday’s game and they continue to build momentum towards an NWAACC title shot. Butler offered insight into their journey towards playoffs.
“We need to apply what we do in practice to games,” said Butler.
The Cougars attacked often, but couldn’t find clear shots. No. 4 Khadijah Kirkland made her way up-field early in the game and sent a nice cross in front of the Lakers goal but it went out. The Cougars continued to attempt offensive plays but the Lakers' goalkeeper Cassidy Crandall defended well. Crandall snatched a straight shot from No. 2 Hope Butler in the opening stanza.
Early in the first half, the plays were aggressive, but lacked set-up. Janine Szpara, the Cougars' head coach was on it, she instructed the team to use better tactics.
“Guys, stop running forward all the time, switch!” shouted Szpara.
Butler drove forward and passed to No. 8 Megan Luckenbach who found the ball right in front of goal. With the first of her two attempts at the beginning, Luckenbach shot, but Crandall denied the score. No. 17 Claudia Flores took two consecutive shots during the first half. The first attempt was halted with a save by Crandall and the next went just barely too wide. Later, Flores had a third attempt with a long shot, but it went too high.
After a foul by the Lakers, No. 5 Marci Haynes took a free kick for the Cougars that lobbed over the defense, but Crandall defended the follow-up. Shortly after, No. 11 Tahni Harr found herself in position to launch a long shot that missed, just barely too wide of the Lakers' goal. Goalkeeper Melanie Trumbull’s voice rang out clear from the opposite side of the field as her team marked-up for the Lakers' goal kick.
“Get to the ball first, you better get that ball first,” yelled Trumbull.
No. 20 Tori Roberts hustled in response to of Trumbull’s rallying cry. Roberts struck her third and best goal attempt of the first half. It was a solid shot, but went just wide and hit the outside of the net. After the Lakers next goal kick, No. 19 Olivia Thoroughman drove the ball to the penalty box, but Crandall stepped-up and defended the Lakers' goal aggressively.
The Lakers were able to take the action back to the Cougars' side of the field. Trumbull defended the resulting attack. The Cougars regained the offensive and towards the end of the first half, No. 9 Stephanie Corea struck a nice shot, but the tenacious Crandall saved it. The Lakers' goalkeeper seemed to home-in on everything the Cougars tried to slip past her. Crandall aggressively intercepted a pass to No. 10 Hristy Prado, then another long shot by the Cougars.
Although the Cougars controlled most of the first half, the Lakers' defense was enough to keep the score 0-0 at halftime.
At just 00:36 into the second half, No. 24 Taija Channel scored the first goal of the game.
“I didn’t play the first half, so I wanted to come out strong and make an impact on the team,” said Channel.
That was all the impact the Cougars needed to pick up steam. They were ahead, but continued to press forward retaining a tight hold on the 1-0 lead in the second half. Corea took another impressive shot, but Crandall saved it again. Flores stayed savvy as she attempted a couple more shots in the second half. Flores received a spot-on pass for her last attempt and Crandall just barely managed to save it.
The Cougars were still on the attack. At 69:00 on the official time, No. 12 Mecca Williams assisted a pinpoint shot by Butler for the second goal of the afternoon.
“Mecca did a really nice diagonal ball which was what we talked about at half,” said Butler. “Taija had a first-touch (to Williams) which allowed me to split the defense.”
Still hungry for points in the final minutes and using smart positioning, Butler ran the ball towards the goal but Crandall defended. The Cougars still commanded a dominant lead of 2-0. Roberts had three goal attempts in the second half and at 89:00 on the clock, she assisted an excellent open shot on goal by Luckenbach. Her shot scored and the Cougars finished out the game with a 3-0 victory over the Lakers.
“I saw Tori, she gave a good ball right in the air to me, I took a good first-touch that set me up for the goal,” said Luckenbach. “There was a defender on my right side so I had to battle to get in front of her. The whole right side of the goal was open, so I took the shot.”
Last Wednesday was not only a convincing win for the team, but the ninth shutout this season for goalkeeping magician Trumbull. Crandall of the Lakers managed to grab 10 saves. The Cougars were still top of the South region after Wednesday’s game and they continue to build momentum towards an NWAACC title shot. Butler offered insight into their journey towards playoffs.
“We need to apply what we do in practice to games,” said Butler.
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