Posted on 03 May 2010 by .
by Chip Carter
*Mills Godwin Contributor
“They finished; we didn’t.”
That’s what Cosby senior midfielder Becca Wann offered as her first observation of Monday night’s non-district match of highly ranked teams won by visiting Mills Godwin 2-1.
And Wann was right.
Both teams had chances to ring up multiple goals, but Cosby put the Godwin defense in danger regularly throughout. They could, however, hit the back of the net only once.
The first half ended in a scoreless tie, but featured several “just misses” by both teams. Cosby got the better of the possession battle, but a solid shot and two headers by Wann and a shot by junior Joy Grove were saved by Godwin keeper sophomore Jessie Ashworth.
Godwin’s best chances were provided by speedy senior forward Marie Krider who beat Cosby defenders to long balls twice but could not convert. Krider also hit the post after a long throw by senior Kelsey Carter was then crossed to Krider by junior Sarah Bellotti.
The half also showcased a matchup of the considerable talents of Wann and Godwin junior Ellen Upton in the midfield. Both have height, speed and leaping ability.
Wann frequently puts defenses in danger with sideline throws that travel to the front of the net while Upton’s uncanny anticipation and foot skills generally gain her team possession of most midfield balls.
The game and the midfield matchup took a turn early in the second half when Upton went down after a mid-air collision and did not return. Upton’s injury, combined with the absence of junior midfielder Lauren Abraham who sat out with a concussion suffered against Collegiate Friday, left assistant coach Miranda Watson scrambling.
She rotated Krider, senior Becca Haislip, and sophomore defender Maggie Lumpkin into the midfield during the second half.
The Eagles got on the board first with 22:40 left as a Cosby free kick was booted back over the Cosby defense where Bellotti gathered it and sped toward the goal. She slid the ball along the ground to the left of diving Cosby freshman keeper Blayne Fink and into the net for a 1-0 Godwin lead. Fink was playing in place of injured regular keeper sophomore Nikki Pond, who may be out for the season.
At 17:00 minutes Cosby almost tied the game as Wann’s header off a nice cross hit the post. The Titans knotted the game 1-1 at the 10:37 mark when a long punt by Fink was headed forward to sophomore Courtney Hook who fought off a defender and pushed the ball past Ashworth into the net.
Although Cosby had the better of the possession for the next several minutes it was Godwin who was more dangerous. Krider’s free kick at 4:30 hit the crossbar.
About a minute later, Carter ran down a long pass to the left corner and kicked it off the Cosby defender for a corner kick. Sophomore Alayna Vaughan then served up a ball that Carter headed in for a 2-1 lead and the eventual game winner.
Cosby attacked aggressively putting the ball into the box several more times in the last three minutes, but did not get a solid shot as Godwin’s defense cleared the ball and the game came to an end.
“It was a game between two evenly matched teams. We had our opportunities, but didn’t capitalize. Our focus right now is on our district,” said first year Cosby coach Roger Lattimer.
Carter, who just recently returned after seven weeks from a severely sprained ankle, said, “We enjoy playing good teams because it helps us grow. I look forward to everyone being healthy at the same time so we can see how good we can be.”
“With our injuries we just had to step up and play some positions we didn’t really know, but we dug in and found a way to win,” said Watson.
Godwin returns to action with a Colonial District contest at J.R. Tucker Tuesday night. Cosby heads to a showcase tournament at Midlothian that also features Deep Run and Powhatan Thursday and Friday of this week.
Mills Godwin 0 2 – 2
Cosby 0 1 – 1
MG: Bellotti, Carter
C: Hook
Saves: Ashworth (MG) 9; Fink (C) 3
Records: Mills Godwin (5-3-1); Cosby (7-2-1)
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