| At our last outing down in King City the Cougars had 20 plus shots to make only 2 goals. This time around they had 20 plus shots to make 9 goals! While frustrated to make a tie the last time, they were frustrated this time around by their coach when he allowed all the subs playing time, and King City managed to scrape three goals. It gave our younger players the opportunity to experience a very physical team and further the development of their game. It also allowed King City some bragging rights to have scored against the Catalina Machine! The Cougars immediately took control of the game. Kate ripped a shot in the 3rd minute, but was denied. Minutes later, Kate was in the penalty area only to be charge down by a KC defender, earning a PK. Perhaps haunted by her frustrations from the previous KC outing, she let Daniela take the kick. A decisive 1-0 start! Blair nailed the crossbar in the 7th minute, then Kate was striking in the 13th only to have it deflected. Vita pounced on the rebound, beating the goalie, but having it handled by one of the defenders. PK number 2! This time Kate chased away her demons and made it 2-0 on the scoreboard! The combination play from Kate, Daniela, Blair and April was destroying the KC defense. Vita on the left and Sarah Morris on the right was pulling the KC defense apart. Kate delivered the capital blow from a fine pass off Daniela in the 16th minute. A counter-attack in the 22nd minute from Laura had Daniela breaking through to make it 4-0. In the 26th minute, Kate and Daniela did it again for 5-0! 2 minutes later, while KC focused on containing Daniela and Kate, Vita assisted April for goal number 6. A corner kick from Daniela in the 30th minute played a deep run from Laura, completely catching KC off-guard to make it 7-0! To avoid to much more humiliation for KC, the substitutes started coming off the bench. The half finished at 7-0, but not before Genevieve and Maddy had had runs at the KC goal. As anticipated, King city opened aggressively – although unfortunately to the point of reckless sliding tackles and flying elbows. Even worse, their coach endorsed it along the lines of; “She touched the ball”. Even at the professional level these days, player safety has replaced that old fashioned excuse. Regretfully, the referees, perhaps in their sympathy for KC’s dismal plight, “generously” allowed these tactics to continue! True to spirit, the Cougars maintained the line-up that left the field at the end of the first half. KC was continuing to play a very high line, trying to work the off-side trap. (While it had already caught the Cougars several times, KC was also 7 goals down!) Maddy was enjoying the most playing time in while – ripping a shot in the 43rd minute before finding the net in the 46th. Two more shots in the 51st and 53rd minute was her max before her shoulder started acting up again. The shift in the Cougars’ lineup saw a rally from KC with goals in the 56th and 59th minute. The Cougars reorganized somewhat and were at the KC goal in the 65th and 67th minute, with Isabelle’s free kick pinging off the bar! Kate had an amazing breakaway in the 75th only to have the KC keeper thwart her run! KC counter attacked, and their best play of the game, ran deep to the right corner before delivering a cross to be met full speed and one touched past Sarah. The Cougars immediately replied with Daniela breaking free to finish it at 9-3. The Cougars were in charge! Three games to go - and three wins will make it three in a row for league champions – GO COUGARS! |