Lady Tigers shutout Fairfield to open 2010 season
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
LEESBURG - For the first time in their four-year existence, the McClain Lady Tigers were winners once the final buzzer sounded following their season opener.
The Lady Tigers soccer program continued their improvement gained last season with a 2010 season opening win over the Fairfield Lady Lions by a score of 3-0 at Fairfield High School.
The Lady Tigers scored two goals in the first half, and for good measure, they added one more in the second half to secure a three-goal lead.
"Our inexperience showed, but we are continuing to work to get better," Fairfield coach Russ Boone said. "We have new people playing new positions, so we have to work on that. This game just shows we have more to work on.
"I think we can build from this. It is a long season."
McClain senior Chrissy Cobb scored the first goal at the 25:31 mark of the first half, which proved to be enough in a physical and tough first game of the season between two Highland County rivals.
MHS junior Sammy Rooks followed with a goal of her own with 22:52 left in the opening 40 minutes for a 2-0, Lady Tiger advantage.
Rooks made it a two-goal game within the first 13 minutes of the second half off a header goal, as the corner kick came off the foot of Alyssa Anderson.
Lady Tiger coach Darrell Upp first spoke about the play of his fullbacks following the season opening win.
"I was happy with our passing and the play of our fullbacks," Upp said. "Our fullbacks of Frankie Wise (senior), Lauren Howard, and freshmen Lauren Starkey and Grace Orr was tremendous.
"We also had great plays by Megan Hogle and Alyssa Anderson."
Upp also talked about the physicality of the contest.
"This was the third year we've played Fairfield, and they have been physical in the past. We tried to prepare our girls, and we told them they had to be ready to play physical."
Boone also spoke about how the game was physical.
"I think we played physical, and we did a nice job controlling the ball. We just couldn't get good shots, and we had a couple of lapses, and that allowed them (MHS) to move the ball. After that happened, we couldn't recover.
"Credit Greenfield, they played well."
Upp talked about the continued improvement of his squad, crediting the SAY program and new assistant coach Luis Rivas.
"Coach Rivas was with the SAY group, and of our eight freshmen, five have played for him. The key to having a good program is having a good feeder program that keeps girls interested in soccer."
MHS keeper Taylor Faulconer was another talking point of Upp.
"Taylor has gotten stronger and has been overlooked because of the records we've had in the past," he said. "She is one of the best keepers in the league. She's a solid player, and her legs are stronger. Her punts tonight (Tuesday) were to the midfield, except for the final two."
One of the top players Tuesday for the Lady Lions was senior Heather Huff.
"Heather was banged up but worked hard and played hurt," Boone said. "We had to move her up in a different position to the front."
The Lady Tigers will host the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs Wednesday at McClain Field.
BOX SCORE
MHS 2 1 — 3
FHS 0 0 — 0
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