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Green Hope 3 vs. Panther Creek 0
Green Hope traveled to their newest neighbor, Panther Creek on
Monday night for the second leg of their conference series. The
schools are only 2 miles apart.
The Green Hope coaching staff was concerned how the match would
go. The team had not been together for over 4 days and they had
to jump right into a conference match without a training session.
The match started with plenty of build up and possession by the
Falcons. Within ten minutes, Kyle Bandy found Martin Murphy open,
and Martin buried it in the back of the net for the 1-0 lead. Green
Hope kept the pressure on and had several chances to increase their
lead but their shots were either directly to the Catamount keeper or
off the goal frame.
In the last 20 minutes of the half the coaches tried a different
system to simulate some play-off situations. It exposed the defense
a little and Panther Creek was able to create a couple of chances
in the Green Hope end. However, the Falcons also created some chances
of their own. On one of them, Murphy made a nifty touch on a pass
from Taylor Estrada and then knocked home his second goal of the
match to make it 2-0 at the half.
In the second half, the team returned to its typical formation.
Panther Creek stepped up the pressure and made it all the more difficult
to get out of the back for the Falcons. However, the additional
pressure opened up the midfield opportunities and the Falcons were
able to penetrate many times down the flanks and with combinations
through the midfield.
Zach Query was asked to come off the bench as a spark, and delivered
almost immediately. Taylor Estrada played a superb ball into the
fleet footed blond and Query deftly volleyed the ball over the keeper's
head as the keeper came challenging off his line. Thierry Henry
could not have done it better! Falcons win 3-0.
Several members of the team received significant playing time that
will only help them during the state play-offs. Of note, the Falcons
defense remains steady. The team has only surrendered 5 goals in
the last 9 games (5 have been shut-outs). Tonight, Alex Long made
a spectacular save on a free-kick and thwarted several corners.
The Falcons take on arch rival Apex, the current Tri-8 conference
leader on Wednesday. A Falcon win would put Green Hope in the lead
for the conference championship and provide great momentum for the
rest of the season and play-offs.
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