Comeback Cougars! Can't Count Out Girls' Varsity
A hard-fought and well-played first half left the Cougars down 4-1 at the interval to rival Greenwich Country Day, but their self-belief never wavered as they entertained the crowd in an epic second half comeback.
It was a crisp, autumnal afternoon with most cloudy skies as the hosts prepared to take on a Tiger team entering on a season-long win streak. It was clear from the kickoff that this game would be played at a higher tempo than the team had seen all season. The opening goal came just four minutes in on an exquisite and instinctive back heel volley that floated into the upper corner to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. The chances came flying at the Country School goalkeeper, who corralled a long distance shot confidently and came out to collect two dangerous crosses. Charlotte M. gave the Cougars a boost with excellent play under pressure on the right defensive wing, turning defense into attack again and again. Just holding on to the 1-0 deficit in the 13th minute, the hosts made their second foray forward count. Co-captain Eleanor beat two players on the dribble then slipped the ball to her left to Maggie, who let the ball run across her favored right foot to sizzle a left-footed drive into the bottom right corner.
NCCS had been pinned in before the equalizer, then straight away were under pressure again. The team was laser focused and organized, but the pace at which the Tigers switched the point of attack proved too much, as they retook the lead in the 15th minute, then scored again in the 19th and a fourth goal in the 23rd minute. Caroline came in up top to disrupt the talented Tiger defensive unit, preventing them from building the attack from the back. Meanwhile, Country School would get possession or begin to get numbers forward, only to find the ball lost and fired straight back into the defensive corners then sliced into the middle of the penalty area. Kayla came in to help on the right side and did a fantastic job of covering for her teammates and finding them with passes while under pressure. Kayla's efforts, Emily's heroics in goal, including an incredible fingertip save to push the ball around the post on a blast from the top of the box, and the intense focus of the back three and midfield kept the game at 4-1 at the interval.
The NCCS players regrouped at the half behind the words of their captains, Ellie R. and Eleanor, and the second half began a more even affair. The Tigers continued to create chances, but it was the Cougars who would strike first. Eleanor picked the ball up in the middle of the park and went straight at the center-back pairing, slicing between them and drilling the ball home from the left-side of the goal into the bottom right corner, almost identical to Maggie's first-half strike.
At two goals down, the momentum of the game had palpably shifted, and belief had spilled from the players into the supporting fans. The visitors won a corner and hammered in a low cross that Julia, who played a vital role from her right back position, confidently cleared straight up the field to the gap between the players in the box and the Tiger defense. Eleanor came streaking out of the penalty area, picking up the ball in space 70 yards from the opposing goal. Her crisp control turned it into a foot race, and while two defenders flanked her and nearly matched her for speed, they couldn't not knock her off balance. She held off the trailing Tigers, beat the final defender, and fired a shot that the keeper was able to get a full hand on, but the ball trickled over the line before she could clear it out to the sheer delight of the Cougar bench.
Now down 4-3 with 15 minutes remaining, the game was at a fever pitch. The visitors fired in a missile from distance that Charlotte C., spelling Emily in goal for the second half and making her season debut, leapt to her full height and tipped straight up in the air before corralling the ball herself. Two minutes later, the Cougars won possession off a throw on the right side of midfield and Maggie measured a through-ball to Ellie L. The NCCS center striker then turned on the after-burners, blowing between the center-backs with two touches, drawing the 'keeper and hammering a shot the deflected through her legs and sat agonizingly two yards from goal. But as her teammates had done the entire game, Ellie did not give up, and rounded the goalie to slam home the equalizer to send her teammates into a frenzy.
With 13 minutes left, all was possible, and Ellie R. entered the fray at right midfield and came a whisker away from winning it for the Cougars with her first touch after a stellar back-post cross by her fellow co-captain. Sam and Freya left it all on the field in the closing minutes, teaming up on the left side with Olivia, who had drifted wide from her forward position, to thwart crosses and turn dangerous situations defensively into dangerous attacks. Kit, who had an outstanding game at center-defense, made one heroic run to cover a break down the right side with just two minutes left, while Mabel had expertly shifted back to essentially form a flat four as the Tigers pushed to win it.
Both teams had chances in the closing seconds, including one final blast that Charlotte C. let fizz over the crossbar, with the final whistle coming immediately afterward.
The team and coaches were all smiles afterward, proud of the fantastic fightback the Cougars showed in the 4-4 draw. It was a full team performance against a talented team. The coaches were extremely proud and we all want to thank the families and friends who came out to support the squad.
Back
NCCS had been pinned in before the equalizer, then straight away were under pressure again. The team was laser focused and organized, but the pace at which the Tigers switched the point of attack proved too much, as they retook the lead in the 15th minute, then scored again in the 19th and a fourth goal in the 23rd minute. Caroline came in up top to disrupt the talented Tiger defensive unit, preventing them from building the attack from the back. Meanwhile, Country School would get possession or begin to get numbers forward, only to find the ball lost and fired straight back into the defensive corners then sliced into the middle of the penalty area. Kayla came in to help on the right side and did a fantastic job of covering for her teammates and finding them with passes while under pressure. Kayla's efforts, Emily's heroics in goal, including an incredible fingertip save to push the ball around the post on a blast from the top of the box, and the intense focus of the back three and midfield kept the game at 4-1 at the interval.
The NCCS players regrouped at the half behind the words of their captains, Ellie R. and Eleanor, and the second half began a more even affair. The Tigers continued to create chances, but it was the Cougars who would strike first. Eleanor picked the ball up in the middle of the park and went straight at the center-back pairing, slicing between them and drilling the ball home from the left-side of the goal into the bottom right corner, almost identical to Maggie's first-half strike.
At two goals down, the momentum of the game had palpably shifted, and belief had spilled from the players into the supporting fans. The visitors won a corner and hammered in a low cross that Julia, who played a vital role from her right back position, confidently cleared straight up the field to the gap between the players in the box and the Tiger defense. Eleanor came streaking out of the penalty area, picking up the ball in space 70 yards from the opposing goal. Her crisp control turned it into a foot race, and while two defenders flanked her and nearly matched her for speed, they couldn't not knock her off balance. She held off the trailing Tigers, beat the final defender, and fired a shot that the keeper was able to get a full hand on, but the ball trickled over the line before she could clear it out to the sheer delight of the Cougar bench.
Now down 4-3 with 15 minutes remaining, the game was at a fever pitch. The visitors fired in a missile from distance that Charlotte C., spelling Emily in goal for the second half and making her season debut, leapt to her full height and tipped straight up in the air before corralling the ball herself. Two minutes later, the Cougars won possession off a throw on the right side of midfield and Maggie measured a through-ball to Ellie L. The NCCS center striker then turned on the after-burners, blowing between the center-backs with two touches, drawing the 'keeper and hammering a shot the deflected through her legs and sat agonizingly two yards from goal. But as her teammates had done the entire game, Ellie did not give up, and rounded the goalie to slam home the equalizer to send her teammates into a frenzy.
With 13 minutes left, all was possible, and Ellie R. entered the fray at right midfield and came a whisker away from winning it for the Cougars with her first touch after a stellar back-post cross by her fellow co-captain. Sam and Freya left it all on the field in the closing minutes, teaming up on the left side with Olivia, who had drifted wide from her forward position, to thwart crosses and turn dangerous situations defensively into dangerous attacks. Kit, who had an outstanding game at center-defense, made one heroic run to cover a break down the right side with just two minutes left, while Mabel had expertly shifted back to essentially form a flat four as the Tigers pushed to win it.
Both teams had chances in the closing seconds, including one final blast that Charlotte C. let fizz over the crossbar, with the final whistle coming immediately afterward.
The team and coaches were all smiles afterward, proud of the fantastic fightback the Cougars showed in the 4-4 draw. It was a full team performance against a talented team. The coaches were extremely proud and we all want to thank the families and friends who came out to support the squad.
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
