Upper Moreland vs. Lower Moreland
HOME TEAM
AWAY TEAM
| GAME DATE | SPORTS | GAME TYPE | OVERTIME |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 17th 2024 | Soccer - Girls | League Game | No |
Lower Moreland Comments
Our girls held off an energetic UM team tonight for a 2-1 win. With a couple injuries to key players in the first half, we had some girls come off the bench and provide some quality minutes to help us secure the win.
We knew that UM would come at us with energy tonight as they celebrated their seniors. I think our girls did a good job at responding with some really smart play. We were able to create a lot of chances in front of their net and capitalized on two of them.
Payge Lennon was dominant in the middle of the field tonight. She won a majority of the 50/50 balls which enabled us to continue to put pressure on UM.
Emma Leibert scored both of our goals tonight. One assisted by Shannon Mahon, and the other by Nikki Sahl. Emma is so tough to defend. She can beat you a number of different ways, and that proved to be the difference in tonight's game.
Keira Huber was really strong in the back tonight as well. Throughout the game she went from being the deepest defender, rescuing us when a ball had gotten through our defense, to stepping up and intercepting a ball in front of our back line and beginning our counter attack with a really smart pass out of the back. She has really good instincts.
1st Half:
Goal Emma Leibert Assist Shannon Mahon
Goal Emma Leibert Assist Nikki Sahl
We knew that UM would come at us with energy tonight as they celebrated their seniors. I think our girls did a good job at responding with some really smart play. We were able to create a lot of chances in front of their net and capitalized on two of them.
Payge Lennon was dominant in the middle of the field tonight. She won a majority of the 50/50 balls which enabled us to continue to put pressure on UM.
Emma Leibert scored both of our goals tonight. One assisted by Shannon Mahon, and the other by Nikki Sahl. Emma is so tough to defend. She can beat you a number of different ways, and that proved to be the difference in tonight's game.
Keira Huber was really strong in the back tonight as well. Throughout the game she went from being the deepest defender, rescuing us when a ball had gotten through our defense, to stepping up and intercepting a ball in front of our back line and beginning our counter attack with a really smart pass out of the back. She has really good instincts.
1st Half:
Goal Emma Leibert Assist Shannon Mahon
Goal Emma Leibert Assist Nikki Sahl
UM 0
LM 2
Final
UM 1
LM2
Goals:
14:54 LM Emma Liebert
30th minute LM Nikki Sahl
78th minute UM Meghan Hitchens
Goalies:
UM Gracie Costello 9 saves
LM Mariah Gazzara 10 saves
I am really proud of the way our girls showed up tonight. Every game this season they have showed up for each other, and tonight was another example of that. We all rallied behind our nine seniors in their send off game. Congratulations to Molly Dancer, Erin Distel, Megan Hamill, Meghan Hitchens, Alison Diaz, Deanna Swedberg, Lizzie Walker and Annalise Messina. These nine along with the rest of their teammates left it all out on the field today.
We knew what Lower Moreland's strategy was going to be, and what we would need to do to contain and slow down their attack. Their first goal was off a well crossed ball, and their second a corner kick. We went into the half down two, but we weren't worried about it. We matched Lower Moreland's 7 shots with 6, so we definitely were still in the game. We made a couple of adjustments at the half and we were able to get another 7 shots on goal in the second half. Gracie Costello has been, and was again tonight, lights out in the net. Our defensive backs, Annalise Messina, Deanna Swedberg and Lizzie Walker have been tremendous for us all season long. Tonight was no exception. Maggie Brophy and Stephanie Jones and Erin Distel were solid in the middle and Leah King and Keiley Hawks ran their flanks both offensively and defensively. Our front line of Madeline Cox, Brogan Neely and Ava Warga high pressured in the offensive third and put in a solid effort up top. The night though, belonged to the seniors. With just under six minutes left in the game, with all of them on the field, in the same fashion that they started their soccer journey as Freshmen, we scored. We had transitioned the ball from the back line through the midfield and found ourselves outside of the 18, Maggie Brophy put a ball across, and Meghan Hitchens found the back of the net---it was awesome! Hitch has been gritty since day one, and her determination can not be beat. She has had to persevere through injury over her career; so, so happy for her to end her career with her first varsity goal. Inevitably, time ran out, but we fought till the end, what more can a coach ask for. I am so proud of every member of this team.