CLAREMONT – For the #2 seeded Cardinals, the time is now. Stevens punched their ticket to a trip to the final four with a hard fought 1-0 win over Trinity on a cold Friday night, but it wasn’t easy.
In a game dominated by solid play and hard tackles from both teams, the Cardinals managed to have a little more momentum on the night as they had the advantage in possession, but found themselves trying to shoot through as many as 7 defenders with limited openings on net.
Before the large crowd had finished lining the fence and filling the bleachers, Stevens’ Sydney Miller ripped a direct kick into the net from 20 yards out to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead with barely 2 minutes off the clock, which would serve as the only score of the game.
“Overall we played well but they took us out of our normal game tonight,” said Stevens coach Tom Belaire, and added, “They were quick to our strikers and midfielders but we adjusted and did what we needed to do.”
As Jenna Pond, Audrey Puksta and Sydney Miller all began to have deep rushes toward net, the Trinity defense, mainly Hannah Jaworske and Ashlee Savage, contained the Stevens offense well as the Cardinals were hunting for more goals. With the Cardinals making solid progress toward the goal, Brooke Bonneau and Tanner Brown were tasked with holding the midfield area against some of the quickest players in D-3.
Trinity seemed content to settle into a defensive set and counter attack with their scoring leader Kelley Francis, but the Cardinal defense was well aware of Francis. “We knew she could score but we kept our shape and overlapped each other just as we have been doing all year,” said Stevens standout defender Alexis Aiken after the game.
With the start of the second half, Trinity moved their center-mid into a midfielder position and had success early on, but Ashlynn Marsh and Zahna Rice seemed to have an answer and shut down that option for Trinity. The Cardinals were forcing play and putting pressure in the offensive side of the pitch but couldn’t get off a clean hard shot for the first 10 minutes of the half.
With Trinity facing elimination, they started to push their backs forward and took control of the momentum, but it was short-lived. Their best chance to tie the game came off the foot of Olivia Twitchell. Her shot sailed high as the Cardinals Kaitlyn Chambers was sliding toward the close post.
Trinity coach Mike Martinez said after the game, “We matched up really well against Stevens on the field but we just couldn’t capitalize tonight, they just didn’t give us many opportunities.”
The Cardinal defense was solid again as LeeAnn McCarthy and Jenna Bonneau added quickness that was too much for Trinity to overcome.
“They were a fast team but we kept our composure and took space away tonight and I think that frustrated them,” said Brown after the game.
Chambers would be tested one more time late in the game but she came off her line all the way to the edge of the goal box to smother a long shot attempt and secure another shutout win, 1-0.
“Kate played well in net for us tonight and the way she came off her line impressed me,” said Belaire after the game. “We got away from our game but we made adjustments and came away with a big win.”
#2 Stevens will play #3 Campbell on Tuesday at 4 p.m. while #4 Hopkinton will face #8 Raymond at 6 p.m., with the winners scheduled to play on Sunday November 4th at 4 p.m. for the Division 3 Championship. All games will be played in Laconia.
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