Mustangs defeat skilled, fast Sacred Heart team
In a real nail-biter where coach Clarke and I were sure we were headed to OT, the lady Mustangs scored on another perfectly executed corner with just over three minutes left in the game, to notch a tough 2-1 victory. This was a great game for both teams, a game of skill, speed, and clean stickwork with very few fouls. Sacred Heart also had the best goalie we've faced all year. We hit her with everything we had -- well-placed high shots, zinging low shots, 1 v 1's, and she repulsed us time and again, so kudos to Sacred Heart's keeper.
The game started strong for Millbrook with excellent short passes, working the ball to the circle and in the opening minutes, we launched two high shots that tested the CSH keeper early. Fracchia made a very impressive offensive run up the left side, showing her versatility, then a minute later, made a great save in front of her own net. The KFal-Lou connection was especially strong as those two forwards found each other time and again, providing exciting offense from the opening pass back. With about 12 minutes left in the half, game still scoreless, this duo passed and shot and passed and shot in a flurry, only to be denied by the excellent CSH keeper. At 7:30, CSH scored their only goal on a well-executed cross from right wing which was tipped in by the left wing. One minute later, Millbrook would answer right back on our second corner of the half, as Steele-Norton would score off the second rebound from the corner shot. The half would end a 1-1 tie, but clearly, Millbrook outshot Sacred Heart almost 2 to 1.
Fallon would come out energized for the second half, and seemed to be virtually everywhere in our offensive zone, tracking down balls, feeding them to the wings, a very strong performance from our lefty ice hockey player. In our defensive zone, Nelson would make two fine saves, one high, one a reaching boot save, right at the 16:00 mark, to keep the game tied. Lavitt schooled the field on perfectly executed block tackles, while Fracchia and Small combined to thwart a pressuring Sacred Heart attack, time and again. The game would go end to end as Whalen, at right mid, made a few key interceptions; Chapman, with her well-timed tackles and big-through hits, and Burdis, with her stickwork, set up several fast break opportunities, but all for nought as the game remained tied 1-1. At 3:26, Millbrook would earn a corner. The Steele-Norton injection to Burdis was perfectly paced, Burdis made a clean stop, drew the fly, neatly passed across the top of the circle to Chapman who shot a zinger with so much pace, I'm surprised it didn't burst out the back of the wooden cage. CSH did not give up however, as the last three minutes of the game proved to be the most nerve-wracking, but the Mustangs held tough. This was a great game for the entire team as we played with intensity and intelligence. Most importantly, we're communicating on the field, looking for each other, using each other and everyone is making a strong and vital contribution. Well done Mustangs!
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The game started strong for Millbrook with excellent short passes, working the ball to the circle and in the opening minutes, we launched two high shots that tested the CSH keeper early. Fracchia made a very impressive offensive run up the left side, showing her versatility, then a minute later, made a great save in front of her own net. The KFal-Lou connection was especially strong as those two forwards found each other time and again, providing exciting offense from the opening pass back. With about 12 minutes left in the half, game still scoreless, this duo passed and shot and passed and shot in a flurry, only to be denied by the excellent CSH keeper. At 7:30, CSH scored their only goal on a well-executed cross from right wing which was tipped in by the left wing. One minute later, Millbrook would answer right back on our second corner of the half, as Steele-Norton would score off the second rebound from the corner shot. The half would end a 1-1 tie, but clearly, Millbrook outshot Sacred Heart almost 2 to 1.
Fallon would come out energized for the second half, and seemed to be virtually everywhere in our offensive zone, tracking down balls, feeding them to the wings, a very strong performance from our lefty ice hockey player. In our defensive zone, Nelson would make two fine saves, one high, one a reaching boot save, right at the 16:00 mark, to keep the game tied. Lavitt schooled the field on perfectly executed block tackles, while Fracchia and Small combined to thwart a pressuring Sacred Heart attack, time and again. The game would go end to end as Whalen, at right mid, made a few key interceptions; Chapman, with her well-timed tackles and big-through hits, and Burdis, with her stickwork, set up several fast break opportunities, but all for nought as the game remained tied 1-1. At 3:26, Millbrook would earn a corner. The Steele-Norton injection to Burdis was perfectly paced, Burdis made a clean stop, drew the fly, neatly passed across the top of the circle to Chapman who shot a zinger with so much pace, I'm surprised it didn't burst out the back of the wooden cage. CSH did not give up however, as the last three minutes of the game proved to be the most nerve-wracking, but the Mustangs held tough. This was a great game for the entire team as we played with intensity and intelligence. Most importantly, we're communicating on the field, looking for each other, using each other and everyone is making a strong and vital contribution. Well done Mustangs!
