27 Aug. 2019 Scrimmage away vs. Chesapeake HS
Centennial Varsity Girls’ Soccer opened their season competition w/ a scrimmage against Chesapeake HS in Pasadena. Having only eight days of training and under the humid glare of an afternoon sun, Centennial were tested by a squad that proved to be strong on the ball and dominant in possession—especially the first 20 minutes of the match. However, chances were few, were always challenged and usually closed down. Centennial’s defense were strong, compact and organized. As a result, both ‘keepers were rarely troubled in the opening 20 minutes until a searching ball forward found Carolina Pellegrini who danced around a stretched backline and smashed the ball into the back of the net to open her and Centennial’s account! Centennial’s goal was against the run of play and set Chesapeake back. The swiftness of the Centennial counter-attack caused a sense of unease in Chesapeake’s backline. Briana Fant began to establish a rhythm in Centennial’s midfield and helped relieve the pressure on our backline. The half ended 1-0. The second half saw Centennial grow into the game in midfield and create five good chances: three on the counter, two through fine combination play from back to front ending w/ overlapping wing play providing the chance or the service for chances. Clever inter-play between strikers Carolina and Lauren Pellegrini looked to close out the game but the header on goal just skipped across the top of the bar w/ the ‘keeper beaten.
Centennial’s midfield was relentless in their recovery to help defend and harass Chesapeake’s midfield which found time and space wanting compared to the first half. Late in the 2nd half Chesapeake finally found time and space to turn and look up and hit a rasping drive from just outside the box but Ashley Bilger answered in spectacular fashion to turn the shot beyond the post. Despite Chesapeake’s dominance in possession, it was the flawless marshalling of the defense by GiGi Castle-Smith and Hannah Souba, the tireless work rate of the entire team and the unwavering concentration to defensive details that proved superior to time on the ball and was responsible for taking home all three points on the day. Well done ladies!! “Man-of-the-Match” went to Carolina Pellegrini—don’t intend to be offensive w/ that; perhaps Girl-of-the-Game is a better choice? If somebody has got a better alliteration please pass it on to me—cheers!
Coach H.
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