Bellevue vs Newport 10-19-19

Bellevue 4-0 Newport
 
Our game versus Newport was rescheduled from earlier in the season when we had to abandon the contest after 17 minutes due to a rare NW lightning storm. So when I saw the weather forecast the night before our rescheduled game-day, I couldn't quite believe it: thunderstorms and lightning forecast for exactly the same time. So for once I'm thankful that our NW weather is so difficult to predict accurately, because I was beginning to think that we were suffering from some kind of cosmic jinx. Instead, we had a mostly beautiful mid-October Saturday afternoon, perfect for soccer. And we began the game with equal beauty. Directly from the kick-off, Audrey sent a ball deep into the Newport end and Paige raced onto the loose ball and finished smartly for the quickest goal in program history: 10 seconds.  1-0 Bellevue.  And with another 4-5 shots immediately afterwards, it seemed like our goal-scoring drought was about to be replaced with a deluge. But with each successive minute we failed to convert our plentiful chances due to poor finishing, the quality of our soccer deteriorated too. We were so desperate to score more goals, we began to play like a desperate team. It wasn't pretty. 
 
So after discussing it as a team at half-time, we entered the second half with renewed focus and determination...and then almost gave away our lead. And if not for a full-stretch save by Ashley in the first few minutes of the half, the Knights should've tied the game. But perhaps that jolt was what we needed, because after Ashley's save, we began to calm down and play more patient (not slow, patient) soccer. Patient soccer should still be very quick, just not in a hurry to stuff the ball into spaces that are too crowded. Patient soccer still requires lots of running for each other, because flowing movement makes the game easier for whomever is on the ball. And we began to run for each other. So it wasn't a surprise, that in the 58th minute, Courtney gave us the margin we needed with a delightful solo effort directly through the heart of the Newport defense. Court then added a second goal in the 72nd minute on a deflected shot by Taylor, and Taylor picked up her second assist on the evening five minutes after that with an inch-perfect pass to Ally who was running hard towards the near post and slotted home for the final 4-0 scoreline. Final game stats: 24 shots, 6 corners vs. 2 shots and 1 corner. Most importantly, we hit the back of the net four times. Long may that continue.    
 
In the end, it was a good non-conference win in which every player on the roster got to contribute. We even got birthday girl Julia a few minutes at striker (her birthday wish). But now we move towards the final phase of our season. We have three Kingco games left in our schedule, and likely need to win all three to progress to the league championship game. Very simple math to understand. 
 
Our first step towards achieving that goal is next Thursday at Juanita. I know the girls will be ready to go.