Queen Anne’s girls lose key tilt to county rival
K. Island 4 — QA’s 1
STEVENSVILLE — The Bucs passed and finished Tuesday evening. The Lions broke free and didn’t.
Kent Island High’s girls’ soccer team got goals from four different players and never trailed in a 4-1 victory over county and division rival Queen Anne’s at Schipul Stadium.
Jen Azar, McKenzie Mogel, Brianna Millett, and Jade Ewing each tallied for the Bucs, who improved to 4-1 overall, 2-0 in the North Bayside. Combined with Easton’s 2-2 double-overtime tie with North Caroline on Tuesday, Kent Island took the lead in the division race.
Buccaneers goalie Madi Banks recorded 10 saves with support from her defense to limit the Lions to a single goal in the second half.
“They played awesome. They really did,” Bucs head coach Lynda Kepley said. “We’ve been working really hard on moving the ball and taking the ball down the field and they did it. They wanted this game. They played their game. They played as a team. They did their crosses, their passes, and they defended very well. Madi’s a great goalie.”
Queen Anne’s suffered its first loss of the season, falling to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the North.
“Kent Island came out and played well. They deserved to win this game,” Lions head coach Mike Kern said. “They beat us to the ball. They had a little more hustle than we did. We had some good chances and the game could have been different if you capitalize on a couple of them, but instead they capitalized. We did not play one of our better games today.”
The Bucs passed well, especially early, to create opportunities. Their efforts paid off 10 minutes into the first half when Grace Schilling, on the left wing, passed inside to Azar running toward the goal on the left inner portion of the field. Azar pushed the ball ahead and placed a roller from close range inside the left corner of the goal, past Lions goalie Emma Hill, for a 1-0 lead.
Play moved back and forth throughout the first half with most of the Lions’ opportunities coming on breakaways resulting from long lead kicks. But the Bucs’ defense, led by Morgan Gunn, Natalie Schilling, and Casey Smith, applied enough pressure, and Banks cut down enough angles, to keep the Lions from finding the net.
Banks’ counterpart, Hill (8 saves), kept it a 1-0 game with a one-on-one save on Azar’s hard shot with 25:50 left in the first half. Moments later, Queen Anne’s Madison Ascione had a chance to tie the game with a breakaway shot thwarted by Banks. With 11:10 left in the half, Mogel hit the left post with a shot and Hill scrambled to gain control of the rebound.
The Lions eventually struck again with Grace Schilling again supplying a lead assist. This time Mogel collected the ball and banged in a left-footer inside the left post for a 2-0 lead with 6:31 left in the half.
Queen Anne’s came out strong in the second half and created more opportunities to score but still couldn’t find the goal. Shannon Donovan shot wide left, off a pass from Ascione, to open the half. Abby Folker’s corner kick sailed over everyone in the crease. Abby Blanchard created an opportunity for Ascione but Banks attacked the play to make a save.
With 18:35 remaining, Kent Island’s Ally Heath sent the ball into the crease and after a collision inside Millett scored from close range to make it 3-0.
Queen Anne’s responded four minutes later when Savanna Corcoran converted a rebound after a deflected shot by Lauren Frank. But the Bucs countered with 11:15 left to end the scoring. Ewing broke free on the left side of Queen Anne’s defense from 30 yards out and dribbled ahead before scoring with a
roller to the left side.
The Lions’ last good chance came on a close-range penalty opportunity with 4:30 to play, but Corcoran’s shot hit the crossbar.
The Bucs outshot Queen Anne’s 20-16. Queen Anne’s led in penalty corner opportunities with 6 compared to 4 for Kent Island.
“The girls on this team
are extremely dedicated to the team,” Kepley said. “But they’re also very willing to give 110 percent no matter where, if they’re on the bench, if they’re on the field at practice. They’re working really hard. They really want it.”
Gunston 6, W. Nottingham 4 CENTREVILLE — Freshman Lily Judd had two goals and two assists, and Momoka Watanbe scored twice as Gunston won its third straight while taking over first place
in the North Maryland Soccer League.
Alice Agee and Lily Phipps each scored a goal for the Herons, who improved to 3-2, 2-0. Megan Prochaska picked up a pair of assists, and keeper Ryleigh Paskosko made five saves.
It’s the first time in four years Gunston’s girls’ soccer team has had a winning record, according to head coach Jon Mellinger. Follow me on Twitter @ csknauss Email me at cknauss@stardem.com
Queen Anne’s Abby Zsebedics looks to kick the ball upfield as Kent Island’s Grace Schilling closes in Tuesday evening at Schipul Stadium.
