Great Battle Decided by Penalty Kick

Second Girls’ Soccer played an outstanding game against always-tough Choate. The Martlets came out sharp, controlling the bulk of the possession for the first 10 to 15 minutes, but failing to muster any serious threats on goal. As the half wore on, the Boars became more and more dangerous, first with potent counterattacks, then increasingly by commanding possession of their own. In fact, the Martlets survived a couple of serious scares, including a shot that rang off the post and a drive that only stayed out by virtue of a great save by Lili Birrell '22. With the match scoreless at the half, it seemed that one goal by either team could be enough for a win. The second half was a bit more of a midfield battle early, but as the teams tired, it turned toward an end-to-end affair. The Martlets just missed a golden opportunity around the 65th minute when a Susie Mahoney '20 shot sailed just over the bar. Not long after, the Boars were given a penalty kick at the tail end of another sudden counterattack; the converted goal did indeed prove to be the only score of the game. Kudos today go to Lizzie McCoy '20 and Campbell Swift '21 who handled the central defense with poise as well as grit, and Ola Szopa '20 and Caroline McCausland '19, who protected the corners. Lauren Way '20 was once again a force in midfield, winning balls, distributing to others and initiating the most dangerous attacks. Taking the loss is a bit hard to swallow given how well the girls played today. No doubt they'll be eager to try again on Wednesday.