Best Shot Is Lescalleet’s Last

Raiders defeat Confederates 1-0

Kristin Lescalleet scored the game’s only goal.

Kristin Lescalleet was having one of those days all great, talented players have every once in a while.

She couldn�??t find the net. Shot after shot narrowly missed or hit the crossbar or was saved beautifully by Lee-Davis�?? Janie Evans.

But
it was nothing Evans could do with about 28 minutes to go in the
Capital District championship, as Lescalleet scored past a diving Evans
on a penalty kick, leading the Raiders to a 1-0 defeat of the
Confederates Thursday afternoon.

Atlee striker Jordan Roseboro
had been getting banged around by Lee-Davis defenders all game, and the
officials caught an L-D infraction to give Atlee a prime scoring
opportunity.

�??At
first when I saw the official make the call, I thought it was outside
the box,�?� said Lescalleet, the district player of the year. �??Usually,
we like for the person that got fouled to finish it. She was just
hurting, so I had to take it for her.

�??I thought it was pretty much an even game. We just got lucky with that one in the box.�?�

No
one could get lucky early, as both teams had few chances to score in
the first half. Finally with under two minutes to go, L-D (12-6)
slipped a shot past Atlee (14-2-1), but it hit the right post and
bounced harmlessly out of the box as the game was scoreless going into
the half.

�??We had our chances in the first half,�?� Confederates coach Brad Dalton said. �??We clocked the one off the post. I just **** that it comes to a penalty kick to be the deciding factor.�?�

But it was because an aggressive Atlee offense didn�??t allow Lee-Davis to establish any kind of offensive flow. Kimmy Cummings, L-D�??s outstanding, potent scorer, had very few looks; not nearly as many as Lescalleet earned.

The Raiders defense, led by back Dylan Priddy did a pretty good job as keeper Hayley Poland came up with the saves when Atlee needed them.

�??The first half we just played too direct,�?� Atlee coach Bruce Lovelace said. �??We tried to have more combination play. Both teams played well. Both teams are dangerous.�?�