Johns Creek, Georgia – In their first Region game of the season, the Cambridge Lady Bears won 2-0 against the Chattahoochee Cougars, on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.
The Lady Bears took the field for their journey back to the State Playoffs in their first Region game of the season. Eight minutes into the first half, Senior Defensive player Ella Crawley passed the ball up the sideline to Junior Forward Jordynn Dudley. Dudley was strong through the Hooch defenders and fought her way toward the net. Her shot was stopped but the ball rebounded directly back to Dudley who made a quick, smart pass to Senior Captain Midfielder Kate Leibel who took a hard shot to the back of the net putting the Lady Bears up 1-0 early in the first half.
During the remainder of the first half of the game, the Lady Bears took many shots on goal, but the Cougar's goalie kept the Bears from scoring again. At 29 minutes, the Bears had an opportunity with a corner kick made directly to Junior Jordynn Dudley but her shot on goal was saved. A few minutes later, Senior Captain Ella Ciardullo made a strong cross directly in front of the goal but the header off the cross went wide. With 18 minutes left in the half, Sophomore Aurora Gaines took a hard shot from outside the penalty area, but the ball was saved. Several minutes later, Freshman Defender Chandler Browning took the ball up the right sideline and passed it off to Senior Ella Ciardullo who advanced the ball quickly and took a really great shot on goal but was denied the point by the Goalie.
While the offense was making attempts during the first half, the Lady Bears Defense was outstanding. Senior Ella Crawley and Junior Sydney Arant worked together and were a near perfect wall in front of the Bears' goal. Freshman Chandler Browning and Freshman Raygen Lewis played physical and strong defense while showing their incredible speed and basically tearing apart the Cougars' midfield. Hooch would only be allowed three shots on goal for the entire game. The Lady Bears would go into half time with a score of 1-0.
The Bears defensive game continued into the second half, expertly holding Chattahoochee away from Senior Captain Goalie Olivia Barfield. With 13:30 left on the clock Junior Jordynn Dudley and Senior Captain Kate Leibel would connect again for the Bears' second goal of the night. The Cougars made several substitutions in order to pick up their offensive pace of the game but were ultimately denied and shut down by the strength of the Lady Bears Defense. The Bears would win with a final score of 2-0.
The Lady Bears will host Johns Creek High School, in a State Championship Rematch on Tuesday, March 8th at 6:00 pm.
Let's Go Bears!
