GAME ONE: SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

GAME ONE: SOUTHERN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

Washington and Lee 7, Southern Virginia 1

Here we go again in 2012. It is finally the time to play a game after what seems like 6 months of pre-season practices but really it’s not enough to even be close to being ready. Hopefully the Generals will get to work on some stuff from pre-season against a real live opponent, not a teammate and we will better be able to gauge our level of where we are exactly.

A rather warm day in Lexington emerged from the clouds right about game time. Not sure what that is all about. Looked like rain until the Generals radiant personalities parted the rain clouds and make the sun shine brightly. New home uniforms for the new season and let’s just say they are very white right now. We looked very sharp indeed.

Right at game time the crowd swelled nicely to about 700. It helped that all other teams were on the road and the first years did an excellent job of advertising games through banners and persuading first years moving in during orientation that the game would provide much needed entertainment after spending the day moving in boxes, making numerous trips to Walmart, and thus giving an opportunity to escape from family for an hour or two.

The Generals put a pretty experienced line up out there at the start of the game which only included one freshman. The other freshpants were still on the track trying to complete the opening day fitness test. Oh well, not to worry I am sure the Generals would rise to the occasion.

First half began brightly as Matt made lemon-lime Gatorade which is always a favorite and the team was royally entertained by a ball boys antics with the corner flag. Seems like he thought it was a left over Javelin from the Olympics as he swung it around with Ninja like movements. Katie Howard volunteered to help the lost soul out and used great tact in explaining that the corner flag is indeed a part of the game and belongs in the corner of the field.

Oh sorry, back to the game.

Nice opening sequences from the Generals as they kept possession and moved the ball around the field. A couple of early chances went begging before the first goal was scored after a scramble in the box by the returning from 5 years out injured Jasmine Soo. She pounced on a loose ball, swiveled and put the ball beyond the keeper for the first goal of 2012. The Gennies were up 1-0 and the crowd went crazy. The Generals continued to pile on the pressure and the keeper made some good saves until Ainsley Daigle swung in a corner and Alex Todd rose like a salmon to head the ball home quite beautifully. Captain to Captain…lovely stuff. 2-0 to the Generals.

Then something weird happened. When everyone’s back was turned the other team passed the ball right to Jasmine Soo in front of the goal. She said thank you very much ( I actually heard her say this) and calmly dispatched the ball into the bottom corner for a 3-0 lead. Two for Soo!

As the half wound down and players seemed to be headed into half-time to get a rest, Katie Rossi with 16 seconds to go decided that there was still time for another goal. Like speedy Gonzales she chased a ball that was going out of bounds, kept it in play, passed to KJ Lancaster who crossed for Erin Harvey to notch her first goal in her big debut. The clock still showed 7 seconds to go. That is what we are all about. Incredible play by Rossi.  Half time 4-0 to the Generals

Sophomore Katie Rossi

The team came off to a standing ovation due to their display and because the metal bleachers were very hot.

The second half is always a challenge to maintain focus and we also made some changes. Kingsley Schroeder went in goal for the second half and the Generals looked a little tired also. However we maintained the lion’s share of possession and after winning a corner on the right Ainsley Daigle played another great ball into the box. The result was something more outlandish than finding a four leaf clover on a sports turf field: It was an Alexis Blight goal! Quite the collector’s item and far from a classic but they all count as one and I have never seen a bad goal scored by our team. 5-0 after 65 minutes.

Did someone call for nap time? Apparently that is then precisely what the back four did as they took a slight siesta and allowed a SVU player to sneak in towards goal and slot the ball home. No clean sheet for us today. 5-1

Would the Generals bounce back for one more onslaught on the opponent’s goal? You better believe it.

Two more goals from Haley Ward with a perfectly placed ball in the upper 90, and Katie Rossi rounded off a slick passing move to score a much deserved goal for her efforts on both sides of the ball today. Holley Beasley and Ainsley Daigle had two assists a piece, and we had great balance in scoring with six different scorers.

PLAYER OF THE GAME:

Katie Rossi: Sophomore from DE. Tireless work ethic both defensively and in attack as a wide player. Katie showed what hopefully the 2012 team will be all about. Hard work and commitment and playing for the team. Great job Katie!

Other notables:

Solid defensive play by Alex Todd and Alexis Blight. Debuts for Addie Healy and Erin Harvey as first years and Haley Ward as a sophomore.

Go Generals!!

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