Northview Titans Junior Varsity Girls Game Summaries

Northview v North Gwinnett - 1-2
March 27th, 2006

The Northview JV Girls soccer team (4-0-1) played host to North Gwinnett on Monday, March 27, and from the opening whistle it was apparent that the Lady Titans were going to be in for a dog fight. The visiting Bulldogs took advantage of some early errant passing and scored the first goal of the evening just 30 seconds in to the contest. Perhaps shell shocked by the quick score, the Northview girls found themselves on the defensive for most of the early going.

Unable to penetrate the midfield, the Lady Titans quickly resorted to launching long balls but to no avail. The girls of North Gwinnett had come to play, and were winning the majority of the 50-50 balls and dictating the flow of the game. At the 27:00 minute mark, the ball appeared to be headed out of bounds on the far side of the field. As Northview eased up to prepare for the throw in, the Bulldog forward sprinted to keep the ball in play, turned the corner and sent a beautiful crossing pass towards the goal. The pass was received by the other attacking forward who fired the ball pass keeper Olivia Alonso for the score and a 2-0 lead.

Stunned at giving up two goals in the first seven and a half minutes of play, when they had only given up one goal all season, the Lady Titans had certainly dug themselves into a hole. It looked as if it were going to be a long night for the Northview faithful. And though it seemed as if the first half was all North Gwinnett, the defense began to tighten down, and North Gwinnett got fewer and fewer opportunities as the half wore on. The usual defensive stalwarts Kate Dixon, Haley Nelson, Mara Hamilton, Caitlin Swindall, and Rachel Wilson all played a part in turning back the Bulldogs, while midfielders Lisa Johnson and Sarah Gibson stepped it up as well. Finally, with just 20 seconds remaining in the half, Northview had a good look at the goal but the North Gwinnett goalie made the stop to deny the Titans any sort of momentum boost.

The second half, now with Gracie Kessenich in goal for the Titans, featured continued aggressive play by North Gwinnett. The Northview offense, however, finally began to solve the Bulldogs defense. At the 25:00 mark, Tara Holland received a pass and broke free on the right flank, but the subsequent shot went wide of the goal. Two minutes later, the ball bounded in front of the North Gwinnett keeper, but in the ensuing scramble she was able to smother the opportunity. At 18:16 Kellie Aarons, playing as a third forward, fired a point blank shot – but once again the opposing goalie made the stop. Perhaps the best opportunity came at the 15:00 minute mark on a set play when forward Hillary Millard sailed a corner kick to fellow striker Stephanie Andino, but her shot bounded off the crossbar and was cleared by the swarming Bulldog defense.

With just over 6:00 minutes remaining in the game and the pace of the Northview attack reaching fever pitch, Andino sent a pass from the corner towards Millard who was waiting in front of the goal. But the North Gwinnett defender reached the ball first, only to send it over her goalie’s head and into the back of the net for an own goal.

Now trailing by only one, the Lady Titans continued the attack. Time, however, was against them. With less than two minutes remaining, midfielder Anna Kornmayer appeared to have a breakaway one on one opportunity, but was quickly shut down. One final opportunity was lost when at the 1:00 mark, a shot was sent over the top of the North Gwinnett goal.

Although they tasted defeat for the first time this season, the Lady Titans should be commended for not giving up after the rough start, and for denying the very strong North Gwinnett offense over the final 62 minutes of the game.