Avalanche played
their first
game at Davis vs the MDSL Cobras. The match started off a bit shaky, as
MDSL scored a goal in the third minute from a ball that was played across
the goal from right to left and finished on the left side. "We were
a bit unprepared at the beginning," said Ed. "If anything, that
woke us up a little bit, knowing that we are behind early. Although it's
not a good idea to give up an early goal, at least there is plenty of time
to get back in the game." Avalanche did strike back in the 10th minute,
when Jessie played a long ball off a free kick that Jane handled. As Jane
dribbled, she saw Sarah along her right side making a!run, and Jane made
a quick pass right in Sarah's path that allowed her to get behind the defense.
Sarah easily put in an easy tap on the right side of the goal. "That
was a really nice combination," said Ed. "Nothing fancy, but very
well executed. Jane recognized the passing opportunity and we took advantage
of it." However, MDSL went ahead at the 19th minute when a questionable
penalty kick was awarded. Christy went in over a player to take control
of a high ball, the contact seemed incidental, but the referee saw it otherwise.
The PK went in cleanly on the right side. Avalanche could have been disheartened
by the call, but they calmly went back to business and tied the game at
the 24th minute. Chelsea had a long shot that the keeper parried away, but
it fell right to Kathy who finished with a strong one touch shot into the
net. The second half belonged entirely to Avalanche. The girls in red and
white went ahead three minutes into the second half off another !free kick
play. Emma placed a free kick cleanly to Kathy who !finished quickly with
a 17 yard volley. "It's great to see we are scoring off those free
kicks. There will be more fouls in Class 1, which means there will be more
free kicks for us. The more we can score off free kick plays, the more dangerous
we will be," said Ed. The scoring continued in the 39th minute, when
Kaitlin quickly grabbed a misplayed ball off a defender deep in MDSL territory,
and easily put one past the keeper. "It was a great goal, but it was
all caused by Bianca," said Ed. "Bianca was playing forward, and
although MDSL had the ball, she applied immediate pressure to the player
that forced her to make a mistake on her pass. I would give the assist to
Bianca onthat one!" Kaitlin would then finish the scoring in the 51
st minute off using her trademark sprinter speed, getting free on a fast
break on the right side and putting a shot away from the keeper, cementing
a 5-2 Avalanche victory. "We got off to a great start in our first
game of the season, in our first tournament," said Ed. "I think
everyone was pleased with their play and excited that we were doing well."
