Oak Ridge tops Willis, extends win streak
temperature in the Even mid-30s, with the hanging Oak Ridge out came to play on Thursday afternoon, extending its winning streak to five games with a 3-0 victory over Willis at the Cavs and Cleats Classic at Gosling Sports Fields. The Lady War Eagles (5-3) have continued to show improvement early in the new season after starting off with three straight losses. Even without one of its top players – senior midfielder Noora Al Dossary – Oak Ridge looked to be in control of the match throughout en route to the triumph over the Ladykats.
Even with the temperature hanging out in the mid-30s, Oak Ridge came to play on Thursday afternoon, extending its winning streak to five games with a 3-0 victory over Willis at the Cavs and Cleats Classic at Gosling Sports Fields.
The Lady War Eagles (53) have continued to show improvement early in the new season after starting off with three straight losses. Even without one of its top players — senior midfielder Noora Al Dossary — Oak Ridge looked to be in control of the match throughout en route to the triumph over the Ladykats.
“I loved the execution of the game,” Oak Ridge coach Jim Collins said. “I loved the pattern of play, I loved the passing, and I loved us getting our backs involved. We’ve just got to finish our opportunities more because if you let a team like that hang around when you have all those opportunities you don’t finish, before you know it, you’re in a tough game.”
Willis (3-3-2) entered Thursday on the heels of a second-place finish at its home Kat Cup tournament this past weekend. But the Lady War Eagles scored in the first 10 minutes of the game and added two more in the second half despite several saves and standout play in goal from Ladykats keeper Hailee Santos.
“We throw numbers in the back, and we keep athletes back there,” Willis coach George Hourahan said. “We’re still shorthanded, and we’ve got a girl sitting on the bench who would be a starting center-back, overcoming some quad injuries. We’ve got other girls with little nicks and pains that can’t go. … Our goalkeeper, I guess she’s still riding high from her all-tournament selection. She has been in the zone the past few games, and she’s just seeing the ball really well and getting her hands on them.”
Oak Ridge got things rolling early on when Grace Eason scored on a header off a corner kick from Allie Shipp. The Lady War Eagles held their 1-0 lead at the intermission, but quickly added to that once play commenced with a goal from Brianna Roberts. The junior forward capped the scoring late in the contest, finding the back of the net for a second time.
Willis’ best scoring opportunity came in the first half when Crisely Pavon took a free kick from about 30 yards out in the middle of the field. The shot was nearly perfect, but Oak Ridge keeper Vanessa Mayer made a leaping save to preserve her team’s shutout. It was the only shot attempt for the Ladykats over the opening 40 minutes.
“I loved the chances we got, and I think sometimes we rush our shots, but that keeper [Santos] is really good,” Collins said. “I thought she played a fantastic game. But I just loved the ball movement we had, and we just need to have a little more patience on our shot, put it on frame and finish.”