Central, North capture victories

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The Hopkins County Central and Madisonville-North Hopkins varsity girls’ soccer teams each came away with victories during Saturday’s Lady Storm Jamboree in Morton’s Gap.

The host, Central, defeated Webster County 1-0, but dropped games to Lyon County 1-0 and North 6-0.

In addition to the win over Central, the Lady Maroons beat Webster 7-0.

Although Central lost to Lyon County, Lady Storm coach Susan Phelps said the game might have been the team’s most impressive performance.

“Their work rate in the second game was very good,” she said. “Lyon County is typically a team that passes the ball very well. We were able to shut down their passing lanes. I was really pleased with their ability to do that.”

Ellen French scored on a direct kick against Webster, the team’s only goal and eventual game-winner.

Although French accumulated the Lady Storm’s lone point, another player, Amber Coakley, shined during her touches.

“She just worked extremely hard up front to get free,” Phelps said. “She received the ball a lot. You don’t realize it until you see it on film. She was always open, it was good.”

Five varsity teams participated in the jamboree with each game just 40 minutes long, allowing teams to play more opponents.

“I think being able to play three teams in a short period was also good,” Phelps said. “I like the format a lot. Kids are able to get a lot of different looks in a short amount of time.”

Central’s game against North, however, was comprised of two 25-minute halves.

Junior Laura Rao scored three goals for North in the win over their rivals. Senior Heidi Clayton scored two goals and freshman Mason Howard added one.

During North’s previous game, Rao and Clayton combined to score the team’s first goal just 12 seconds after play began.

The duo stole the ball just after kickoff and passed back and forth toward the opposing goal. Clayton tapped ahead to Rao for a 1-0 lead.

“For the first scrimmage, we’re ahead of every team I’ve ever had as far as communicating and moving the ball,” North coach Steve Shepard said.

Rao’s goal was the first of four against the Lady Trojans. Clayton scored two goals and Ellen Whittington chipped in with one as well.

Although the Lady Maroon defense did not surrender a goal on the day, Shepard said the team has work to be done defensively.

“I don’t like the ball to cross the goal mouth, that’s just a no-no in soccer,” he said. “If it does cross the goal mouth, it needs to be gone. It doesn’t need to sit there for more than one-hundreth of a second. It needs to be gone, somewhere, anywhere away. My favorite motto for the defense is ‘when in doubt, kick it out.’ ”

North will be back in action for a scrimmage at 7 p.m. today at Muhlenburg South. The Lady Maroons’ first game is Aug. 19 against Caldwell County, and Central plays the same day at Hopkinsville.