By Christopher Shaban
Eagle Times Correspondent
CLAREMONT, NH — Change is difficult, but Tim St. Pierre’s Cardinals are figuring it out after they grabbed a 2-0 win over an up-and-coming Fall Mountain group for their third win in a row on Monday, Oct. 2.
Last season Maddy Minckler was a scoring machine for Stevens and when the playoffs hit, everyone knew it. This year there are a slew of options as Minckler’s leadership and unselfishness has helped produce some great results.
FM coach George Tsitsonis’ team has a solid goalie with Kendal Cote between the pipes, and she was big in this one. With Minckler’s ball control and passing ability, the Cardinals were having great looks at net with Peyton Ferland, Kiley Bundy and Faith Norton finding seams to attack early and often.
Ferland hit paydirt with a blast barely 4 minutes into the match, giving Stevens a quick 1-0 lead. Stevens nearly doubled that score off a penalty kick, but Cote guessed right and swatted a sure goal away to keep the Wildcats close. The quick pace favored Stevens as they controlled time of possession by a big margin. The midfield play of Lydia Vogel and Selah Fredrick was rugged and steady, but waves of Cardinals just kept coming.
Ferland and Kaiya Richardson were hunting for a goal but Rhea Quick had the best look at net as her shot whistled past Cote. As the momentum kept favoring Stevens, a blast by Maddy Chambers 25 yards straight away, grabbed the twine giving Stevens a 2-0 lead that they took into the break.
“I love our fight,” said Tsitsonsis. “Stevens is a top 4 team and we really dug in for the second half.”
He wasn’t lying.
Norton looked to give Stevens a 3-goal lead but Cote responded while the Fall Mountain midfield stepped up their game looking to press play against Addison Derosier and company. Charlotte Reilly and Mariella Tsitonsis were on every pass and rush, but the Cardinal defenders had a terrific day in front of Audrina Pelton. With Bella Bovell getting her confidence back from an injury, she joins a strong backline with Maddy LaVarnway, Naveah Leblanc and Brianna Marsh who are all playing very well together.
The second half had lots of midfield play but there were few great chances. Reilly whistled one over the crossbar while a battle along the sideline with Chambers and Maddy Hawkins was intense.
“Sometimes this group needs a jump start; so much of this game is mental,” said St. Pierre. “We need to be proactive all the time and not react but be the ones controlling play.”
Stevens walked off with a 2-0 win to improve their record to 10-2-1 and will get a needed week off before their next game.
At 5-4-2, FM is in the hunt for a home playoff game with games against Monadnock, Conant and St. Thomas on the horizon.
“We work so hard. Good things will happen with the energy this team puts out every game,” Tsitsonsis said.
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