Northview Titans Junior Varsity Girls Game Summaries
Northview v Peachtree Ridge - 2-0
February 23rd, 2007
The Northview JV Lady Titans traveled to Peachtree Ridge in their second match of the season, and prevailed 2-0 against a tough Lions squad. Peachtree Ridge entered the contest sporting a 3-0-1 record, having scored a gaudy 21 goals while surrendering only a single score. Northview had showed some offensive explosiveness in their opening game as well, so you figured this would be a high scoring affair.
Of course, just the opposite took place. Both teams started flat, with neither side gaining much advantage or momentum. One of Northview’s first opportunities came nearly 15 minutes in, when forward Daria Gound had a long run down the left side, only to see her shot saved the Peachtree Ridge goalie. After two successive defensive stops by Michelle DiPietro, the Lady Titans began to get the better of their opponent.
The remainder of the half saw Northview take shot after shot on goal, but the Lions’ keeper single handedly denied the Lady Titans from scoring with some stellar stops. Forwards Shelby Apps and Hillary Millard had multiple opportunities, as did midfielder Samantha Howard – even defender Lisa Johnson was able to get off a long shot, but to no avail. A scare happened at the 12:30 mark when Gound was unable to get up after a hard tackle from a Peachtree Ridge defender. She did walk to the sideline with assistance, and the half ended with the score even at 0.
The second half got under way with Northview continuing to pepper the Lions’ goal (and Gound able to take the field), only to be continually denied by more brilliant play from the Peachtree Ridge keeper. On the defensive side of the ball, Mara Hamilton, Kylie Janusek, DiPietro, Johnson and Titan goalie Hannah Riddle all made outstanding plays to keep their opponent off the scoreboard.
The girls had out shot Peachtree Ridge by a considerable margin up to this point, but had nothing to show for it. The midfielders, including Kellie Aarons, Anna Kornmayer, Kelley Hoehn, all contributed to the Lady Titans maintaining possession by serving up lead out and through passes to the forwards. Then, with just minutes remaining in the game, Shelby Apps came streaking down the left side of the field towards the goal. This time, however, she showed a little more patience and waited for the keeper to commit – then fired a beautiful shot to the far post that put Northview up, 1-0.
Play intensified, and forward Hillary Millard left the game after a hard foul that stopped a potential Peachtree Ridge breakaway. At the 9:20 mark, Apps again came roaring down the left side in what looked to be a carbon copy of her scoring play from a few moments before. This time, the goalie stood her ground so Apps sent a picture perfect pass over to Carly Martini who was waiting to put the cross away for the comfortable 2-0 lead.
And that is how the match ended. While not always a thing of beauty, the Lady Titans were glad to walk away with the victory. Next up is their first home game of the young season on February 27th against Lassiter.
