Millbrook and Wood girls play to a scoreless deadlock

April 15, 2011

By Robert Stocks       

WINCHESTER- After taking each others' best shots for 90 minutes, neither Millbrook nor James Wood could deliver the knockout blow in Thursday night's Northwestern District girls' soccer match.

Both teams had chances, but in the end neither could put a shot past Millbrook goalkeeper Olivia Mason or James Wood's Kaleigh Fincham in a scoreless draw at Kelican Stadium.

"They matched us, and we took turns having momentum, and it was like a boxing match where it kept going back and forth," James Wood coach Jim Carden said. "If anyone didn't get their money's worth out of this game, then there's something wrong with them."

There's definitely not much wrong with either team's defense, and the Colonels (2-2-2, 0-1-1) certainly made it a frustrating night for the Pioneers (5-2-1, 0-1-1).

After watching his team's offense struggle a bit early in the season, Carden opted to take more of a defensive approach, using a five-fullback system with all-district midfielder/forward Cat Woznak moving back to sweeper for the second consecutive game.

The Colonels also had 5-foot-9 junior stopper Nancy Riggleman mark Millbrook's leading-scorer Brooke Borlie for much of the match.

"They have so many good players, we knew we would have to stop Brooke," Carden said. "I thought Nancy did a great job on her. You can't stop them all, so you definitely have to pick your poison, and Brooke can put you away in a minute." Woznak teamed with Riggleman (the stopper) and defenders Stephanie Roby, Emma Watts, and Nikole Olson to help Fincham post the shutout.

"I've played against Brooke Borlie, and that kind of gave me an advantage because I knew I couldn't give her space," Riggleman said. "When she really does her moves, I knew I couldn't over-commit."

The Colonels outshot the Pioneers 16-13, but both teams came away from the match feeling like they didn't make the most of their chances.

The Pioneers came up empty on two free kicks midway through the second half, sending both shots right at Fincham, who finished with nine saves.

With 14 minutes left in regulation, Borlie used her speed to get around a pair of James Wood defenders, sending a shot to the left post, but Fincham was there to make the save.

Millbrook senior Hallie Obleas came up empty on two shots in the closing minutes of the second five-minute overtime period. She had a free kick just outside of the 18-yard box, but her shot sailed wide right, and then she put another shot on goal from the center of the 18 in the closing minute, but it was right at Fincham.

"We had our chances, and the missing piece is finishing," Millbrook coach Stephanie Gladden said. "We just couldn't find it tonight. We're a little out of sync."

Fortunately for the Pioneers, their defense and Mason (10 saves in place of starter Caitlin Schrader, who was sick) thwarted all of the Colonels' chances - including their best opportunity with four minutes left in regulation.

James Wood freshman forward Dulcie Kysela blasted a shot that Mason got a piece of near the left post, but the rebound bounced about three feet out in front of the goal. Kysela tried to get to the rebound, but it was cleared by the Pioneers' defense.

"Sarah Callaham crossed it into the center and I hit and it went off the goalie," Kysela said of perhaps the best scoring chance for either team. "I went to go hit it in, but the defense got in the way and got it out. It was really close."

After taking over the Colonels four years ago, Carden said Thursday night's effort was one of the best he's seen from his team.

"We played well. We had some chances, and they had some," he said. "We thought we had the best chance [with Kysela's shot].

"It was a great high school game to watch. Both teams gave everything they had. It was clean, but it was hard and neither team would give an inch. There was no loser here - not tonight."

After losing 1-0 to defending district champion Sherando last Thursday and playing Millbrook to a draw, Woznak said the Colonels' confidence is building.

"All we have to do is learn how to finish, and we're definitely going to be a force to be reckoned with," Woznak said. "Millbrook definitely thought they were going to rule the district, so to shut them down this early definitely gives us an advantage going in to [the rest of the district schedule]."

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