Varsity - Bellevue vs Inglemoor 10-15-24

#5 Bellevue 4-1 #2 Inglemoor
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32nd min Maddy (Nora)
33rd min Inglemoor goal
39th min Kenny (Mia)
63rd min Kaitlyn (Saleen) header from corner
72nd min Mia (Nora)

Underdogs. 

Rocky Balboa. 2015-16 Leicester City. David. Hickory High School. Kerri Strug. Jess in Bend it like Beckham...

...Bellevue Girls Soccer?

I've had the week of October 14th circled on my calendar ever since our Kingco regular season schedule was released. This week contained the only two regular-season games against teams from our classification (3A Inglemoor & Liberty), and in our convoluted and overly complicated league reorganization, these two games would have the biggest impact on our post-season ambitions. I knew that Liberty would be a strong side again this year, so it was no surprise that the Patriots entered this week as the #3 RPI team in the state. Inglemoor was an unknown having dropped down from 4A to 3A this season, and therefore, we have never played the Vikings during my tenure. But they are having an excellent season and entered this week as the #2 ranked RPI team in the state. Bellevue was ranked #5. (have I mentioned before that we play in the most competitive league in the state?)

Hence, underdogs.

It's a new role for us. And I think I like it. 

Inglemoor is an excellent team. They are very organized. Good in the air. Tough in the tackle. Are quick and speedy on the wings, have one of the more dynamic center midfielders in our league, and an athletic and composed goalkeeper. It's a balanced team. 

But so are we.  

The game took a while to find any rhythm, as both teams stayed compact and the ball frequently found its way over the sideline for a seemingly endless amount of throw-ins. But as the game progressed, we began to control possession and tempo and the chances followed. The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute, as Nora won a challenge on the left wing, the ball squirted to Maddy at the top of the box, and our midfielder opened her 2024 account with shot that found the far right post and bounced gloriously into the back of the net. 1-0 Bellevue. But the rejoicing was short, as less than a minute later we conceded the tying goal as Inglemoor's #10 sent a long ball over our defense to the Vikings right winger who squeezed her shot in at the near post  1-1 deadlock and the momentum tilted towards the visitors. But then, with almost the last kick of the first half, Mia slid a simple (my favorite type of pass) square ball to Kendall at the top of the box, and our senior midfielder blasted the ball into the upper left corner. 2-1 Bellevue. Momentum re-seized.

We maintained control of possession in the second half, muting Inglemoor's desire to counter-attack and finally added to our lead in the 63rd minute as Kaitlyn rose highest from a Saleen corner, and headed the ball (downwards!!!!) powerfully into the back of the net. 3-1 Bellevue. Chasing the game, Inglemoor shifted their formation to add more attackers, which is logical, but risky. We caught them in a counter-attack in the 72nd minute as Saleen released Nora alone on the Inglemoor goal, and our junior deked the onrushing keeper, slipping the ball to an onrushing Mia who hammered the ball into an open net. Textbook counter-attack. 4-1 Bellevue. Final score.

It was an excellent overall team performance. Still a bit scruffy at the edges and lots of little tactical and technical things to clean up, but overall our trendline is positive as we get closer to the end of our season.  

So now we turn our attention to Liberty on Thursday, a respected and well-run program, and one of our longest and most competitive Kingco rivals. Based on the ranking entering this week, we'll still be playing the role of underdogs. And more importantly, Liberty is a single point ahead of us in the Kingco 3A standings with three games left to play. The victorious team on Thursday will gain an advantage in the race to earn a spot in the 3A Kingco championship game.  

Jimmy Chitwood at the buzzer. 

See you there.