This past Wednesday, Manual girls’ varsity soccer team defeated Male in the annual rivalry game with a score of 5-0. The Crimson Crazies designated the game a black out.
First Half
The game started off tough, with both teams fighting for possession. Manual made several attempts for the goal within the first few minutes, but was unsuccessful in scoring. At 37 minutes, Chloe Groemling (#5, 11) was granted a corner kick, but missed. Shortly after, Jasmine Smith (#22, 11) attempted to score, but was again unsuccessful. Following a free kick by Male, Smith attempted to score again, but was stopped by the Bulldogs’ defense.
At 30 minutes, Isabella Acosta (#16, 9) scored a goal for Manual, but it was ruled offsides.
Male then missed a corner kick, which was followed by goal attempts by Janie Mundell (#20, 12) and Isabelle Hooper (#28, 11).
Manual tried for the goal yet again, but were unsuccessful. Male had plenty of opportunities to score, as well. Male was granted a free kick after a called handball by Claire Lowery (#41, 11). The Bulldogs fought for the ball during the free kick, but fortunately for the Crimsons, goalie Riley Borders (#0, 12) saved the resulting free kick. Undeterred, the Crimsons shot for the goal a few more times, but were unable to score.
“We were clearly the stronger team, we just might’ve come in with a preconceived notion of what we thought the score was gonna be, even though we’re trying to condition ourselves to every game is the best team we’ll ever play,” Manual girls’ varsity soccer head coach John Kassebaum said.
The score was 0-0 at the end of the first half.
Second Half
Following a scoreless first half, the Crimsons picked it up in the second half. Male received a corner kick within the first few minutes, but missed. The Crimsons got the ball back, which allowed Laurel Senninger (#11, 11) to score the first goal at minute 35.
“It feels incredible, it’s really good to score against our biggest rival, it was really fun to play with the girls tonight, and I think it was just a really great game,” Senninger said.
After that, goal attempts were made by Emma Griffin (#2, 12) and Lola Thompson (#7, 11). Unfettered, Smith had back-to-back shots, but were unsuccessful. Later on in the game, Mundell was fouled by a Male player, and was granted a penalty kick, but missed. However, the Lady Crimsons rebounded at minute 20, with Bela Gatton (#3, 12) scoring Manual’s second goal with an assist from Ella Kaylor (#38, 10).
As time winded down, Senninger (#11, 11) scored Manual’s third goal at minute 12. Male was granted a corner kick, but any momentum they had was stopped by the Lady Crimsons’ defense. Shortly after, Acosta scored the fourth goal of the game.
“I feel amazing after scoring that goal but I feel like I could’ve done better just getting my head up and just placing it better,” Acosta said.
Griffin attempted again, but was stopped short of increasing the lead. Groemling then got a free kick, but was surrounded by players from Male.
With three minutes remaining, Thompson got a free kick and scored the fifth and final goal of the game.
“Male did a good job of packing it in, making us go around, so they got numbers behind the ball…they did a good job of that, but we eventually wore them down,” Kassebaum said.
The Lady Crimsons won 5-0, victorious against the Bulldogs once again.
Izzy • Aug 23, 2024 at 2:00 pm
you go girl!