The Lady Bears were back on track on Monday evening, March 27th against the Chattahoochee Cougars carving out a well-deserved 2-0 win. It was a dominant Lady Bears performance right from the first minute but for the Cougars outstanding goalkeeper, the winning margin would have been much greater.
In the 17th minute Amanda Navin (23) almost found Clark with a through ball but the Cougars goalkeeper anticipated the pass and was able to gather it just inside the 18 yard box. Clark then forced the goalkeeper to parry a shot at full stretch as the Lady Bears threatened again. Navin almost scored directly from the resulting corner!
Another precise cross from Caitlin Powers (37) found Molly Booker (24) in the 20th minute that was a whisker away from going in for the opening goal.
As the half time whistle approached, the Lady Bears continued on the front foot looking for that elusive first goal. Amanda Navin (23) slalomed from midfield towards goal and shot just wide right in the 30th minute. A rare mistake from the Cougars goalkeeper saw her picking up the ball from a back pass in the 31st minute. Navin almost scoring from the pullback but for the post! There was still time for a free kick in the 34th minute which Navin hit straight at the goalie from 25 yards out. Navin would make up for that later in the game! Half time honors even at 0-0.
The halftime break did nothing to thwart the Lady Bears momentum. The Lady Bears continued attacking with purpose as shots from Molly Booker (24) and Amanda Navin (23) in the 42nd and 44th minutes made the Cougars goalkeeper work.
The goal the Lady Bears richly deserved arrived in the 46th minute. To no-one's surprise it was created by Caitlin Powers (37) on the left hand side for Molly Booker (24) to stab goal wards from 6 yards out. 1-0 to the Lady Bears!
That same combination produced another goal scoring chance in the 51st minute but this time the ball sailed just wide. In the 55th minute Grace Cunningham (31) hit the bar from a free kick for hand ball as the Lady Bears searched for a game defining second goal.
At the other end the Cougars conjured up their best chance to score as their striker smashed the ball against the right hand post.
As the game approached the last 10 minutes, Cunningham shot just over as she ran clear on goal. In the 63rd minute a turn and shot from Karina Naik (25) was on target but not powerful enough to trouble the goalkeeper.
An almighty scare, with barely two minutes of the game left, was averted by a terrific block from Ashley Spina (0) as the Cougars striker charged towards goal. Spina bravely diving at the approaching strikers' feet to divert the ball away from danger.
An exquisite dipping shot, 20 yards from goal, by Amanda Navin (23) in the final minute sealed a memorable game and victory for the Lady Bears.
Final score 2-0. The Lady Bears move to 6-2-2 for the season going into our final home game on Wednesday, March 29th against Norcross.
Come on Bears, let's finish the season on a high with a W!
