By Christopher Shaban
Eagle Times Correspondent
CLAREMONT, NH — Cardinal freshman Faith Norton’s goal midway into the first half Sunday, Oct. 29, was all Stevens’ defense needed to totally shut down a strong Kearsarge team, sending the young Stevens squad into the semifinals with a 1-0 win.
Kearsarge and Stevens split their games during the regular season but on Sunday, the Cardinals were the better team with a big time of possession advantage. As the pace of the first half quickened, the Lady Cardinals were ready as they took care of the ball and won more of the 50/50 battles than they lost. Kiley Bundy and Addison Derosier controlled the middle of the pitch and allowed Cardinal defenders Bri Marsh and Maddie LaVarnway to push forward.
“We played a pretty good first half,” said Stevens Coach Tim St. Pierre. “We kept the ball in their defensive end and pressured well.”
As the Cardinals worked the sidelines, Norton began her rush in front of the visitors bench then sliced toward Kearsarge keeper Adora Boucher. As Boucher began to creep off her line, Norton reared back and fired on target just as Boucher slid down to block the shot. Norton’s shot had plenty of juice and glanced off the keeper high.
It drifted right into the goal for a 1-0 Cardinal score.
“I anticipated her to charge at me, so I tried to lift the shot a bit and it worked when it hit her high and found the goal,” said Norton.
Stevens’ defenders Lavarnway, Bella Bovell, Nevaeh LeBlanc and Marsh were spectacular all match and never let Kearsarge have any sustained time near Cardinals keeper Audrina Pelton.
“We came here dialed in for this one,” said Novell.
With steady drizzle and cool temperatures, the Cardinals had the hot hand and out-hustled Kearsarge to those loose balls and kept strikers Maddy Minckler and Peyton Ferland busy with passes into the corners.
Stevens, though, was just quicker.
“We brought the energy and effort today, and the right mindset. Kearsarge is a big rival for us and we were ready for this,” said Derosier. “This was a strong Stevens team performance today.
Kearsarge started to load up more offensive players hoping to tie the game but again, the Cardinals midfield just closed the door. Kayleigh Ferland, Maya Rice and Alexis Castaneda brought fresh legs and added layers to the Cardinals midfield dominance. Time ticked away on the Kearsarge season as Stevens advanced with a 1-0 win. They will face top seed St. Thomas on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at 6:15 p.m.
“Today we were a mentally sharp team and we will need our best effort on Wednesday,” St. Pierre said. “We didn’t come this far to come this far. These opportunities don’t come along often and it’s up to us to take advantage of what we want.”
Stevens ended their home season with a 9-0-1 record in front of what St. Pierre described as the best fan base by far.
The Cardinals lost to St. Thomas last month 4-1 and haven’t lost since. Fall Mountain gave St. Thomas all they could handle before falling 3-2 on Sunday on the road in the other quarter final matchup.
“We will be prepared,” said Norton.
The game will take place at Manchester Memorial High School.
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