Clever Corner Against Country Day Keeps Cougars Cruising

In stark contrast to the first meeting of the season—a violently windy affair that was called two minutes from time due to lightning in the area—a crystal clear sky, brilliantly colored leaves, and ideally crisp autumn air provided a setting that simply smelled and felt like fall soccer. The Tigers arrived to NCCS looking to avenge last year’s meetings while sporting five victories on the season, including impressive results against the Greenwich High 9s (4-0) and Greenwich Academy JV (2-2). Meanwhile, the Cougars were hitting their stride with nine goals scored and one against in their previous two games.

 

The visitors were on the front foot early, first to the ball and pressuring the NCCS back three and defensive center midfield. Sloane was under fire at right back, often defending two players at once, but she remained both resilient and calm against the towering Tiger attackers, preventing quality crosses and shots at every turn and maintaining possession through finding Ashley at right midfield. But the Cougars grew into the game, helped in part by an injection of energy provided by the introductions of Sydney at attacking center-midfield and Bridget and Himani at the flank midfield positions. Sydney’s strong performance was highlighted by several brave tackles and smart passing combinations in the midfield. The work-rate of Charlotte as the center-forward kept the Tiger defenders frantic. It nearly paid off on a counter-attack in the late going of the first stanza when she won a foot-race for a ball over the top and unselfishly guided a pass to her strike partner Ava. However, Ava’s shot from 19 yards trickled agonizingly wide left of the post. The half ended knotted at nil.

 

While the first half saw veteran goalkeeper Ella come out and pounce on several through-balls, GCDS tested her shot-stopping capabilities in the second frame. In her best performance of the season to date, Ella was up to the task, highlighted by a finger-tip stop on an open shot from the top of the box that was headed for the top left corner. Co-captain Margaret was doing her best from her defensive midfield position to help prevent any more chances, including a run of play in which she cleared the ball from the end-line multiple times after having been involved in an attack in the opponents’ penalty area just moments before. Sofie played with supreme confidence at the center of the back three, often left one against one with the talented Tiger strikers. Annabelle at left back showed an extra gear of speed and grit to match her ever-present calmness. Daniela and Dylan both aided the Cougar effort as well with nonstop running at outside midfield. Daniela helped Sloane tremendously on the defensive right side, while Dylan nearly got on the end of an outstanding service to volley the hosts into the lead.

 

With ten minutes to play, Ava earned a corner with a shot that stung the GCDS net-minder’s hands from distance. As she headed to the attacking right to take the set piece, co-captain Layla whispered something to her teammate. Moments later, as a host of Cougar attackers crowded the six-yard box, Ava laced an out-swinging service to the top of the box. Layla sprinted laterally to meet it, somehow controlled the bouncing ball and fired it in one quick motion as multiple defenders bore down on her. The Country Day ‘keeper very nearly came up with yet another impressive save, but this one was destined for the top left corner, and the Cougars celebrated their co-captain’s moment of brilliance with their typical team spirit.

 

The final ten saw both teams get chances in a match that grew increasingly physical and stretched. Ashley’s calm on the ball and Ava and Charlotte’s relentlessness nearly led to a second tally. Lola’s effort at left-midfield against the visitors’ most dangerous player played a critical role in the closing moments. On the sideline, the coaches, players, and fans had hearts in mouths as the Cougars cleared one last corner kick just before the final whistle. The coaches could not have been prouder of the effort the team gave for the sixty minutes.

 

The NCCS team wants to thank the classmates, teachers, staff, and parents for coming out to support the team in the last home game of the season, and especially the parents for their continued support all season long.