The Lady Bears registered their fourth win in a row on a cold Friday night, March 10th, winning 3-2 in an action packed game from the first to the last minute.
The Lady Bears started on the front foot as early as the 2nd minute, winning a free kick for a trip on Molly Booker (24) just outside the 18 yard box as she ran clear on goal chasing a through ball from Megan Clark (33). The free kick taken by Grace Cunningham (31) was well defended by the Lady Titans wall.
An alert save from Ashley Spina (0) was needed in the 4th minute as the Titans threatened. The breakthrough came as early as the 5th minute when Megan Clark (33) played a sumptuous through ball to Molly Booker (24) who ran right through the Titans defense to slot the ball into the right side of goal to put the Lady Bears 1-0 up.
The Lady Titans dominated the next few minutes with good possession play in midfield, creating goal scoring opportunities in the 9th, 10th and 14th minutes. Spina (0) staying firm in goal and making a clever save from a dangerous bouncing ball in the penalty area. The Lady Bears almost added a second goal in the 15th minute when a deep corner taken by Amanda Navin (23) sailed over everyone and fell to Molly Booker (24) at the far post.
The Lady Titans levelled the game in the 18th minute when a goal kick fell at the feet of their forward who scored with a confident finish high into the top left corner. 1-1.
A penetrating run and shot into the side netting from Megan Clark (33) in the 20th minute was followed by another goal scoring opportunity in the 22nd minute when Erica Quinn (28) almost diverted Amanda Navin's (23) cross from the right into goal. The Titans continued to press as half time loomed with a couple of good strikes narrowly missing the target.
The Lady Bears started the second half on fire with 2 goals in 2 minutes as they threatened to run away with the game! A perfectly weighted ball in the 37th minute from midfield found Megan Clark (33) who scored to put us 2-1 up. In the 38th minute, Amanda Navin (23) scored an absolute peach of a goal directly from a free kick just outside the penalty area. The ball nestling into the top left hand corner to put the Lady Bears 3-1 up. Navin (23) then almost added a 4th goal in the 40th minute as she dribbled through the Titans defense and forced the goalkeeper into a good save.
A penetrating run up the left wing by Molly Booker (24) in the 44th minute brought out a well-timed sliding tackle from the defender. Another sliding tackle, this time on Caitlin Powers (37) as she closed in on goal in the 46th minute could easily have resulted in a penalty! The Lady Bears kept up the pressure and Grace Dass (29) almost got on the end of a long ball from midfield in the 49th minute.
The Lady Titans reduced the deficit in the 52nd minute with a confident finish from their center forward after a precise through ball from midfield. 3-2 and it was game on!
As we approached the last 10 minutes, it was end to end action. Good wing play on the left from the Lady Bears almost leading to another goal. A great run down the left from Caitlin Powers (37), cutting the ball back skillfully onto her right foot and smashing it goal wards but hitting the bar. Molly Booker (24) almost putting the ball into the back of net from the rebound!
A real "edge of the seat" finish culminated in a stunning goal line clearance from Grace Cunningham (31) in the dying seconds of the game, heading the ball clear from right under the cross bar to prevent an almost certain equalizing goal!
The Lady Bears held on to win 3-2 and move to 5-1-1 for the season. We play at Johns Creek next on Monday, March 13th.
Go Beaaaaaaaars!
