by Niki Cunningham
Sports Editor
e-reporter
Bob Nielsen
A week after losing for the first time this season, the U-14 Lassen Arsenal hosted the Palo Cedro Mustangs, another one loss team, rested and ready to win. Missing several key players to injuries, the girls adjusted by expertly covering their positions. In the opening minutes, it looked to be another rough game for Lassen, as the Mustangs worked the ball through the midfield and put pressure on the defensive back line with speed and effective passing.
Once the Arsenal defense adjusted, and started sending the ball to the waiting midfield, the attack on the Mustang’s goal got underway. After the second save by the Palo Cedro keeper, she carried the ball forward to kick it to her teammates, but inadvertently handled it outside of the penalty box, giving Lassen a direct free kick from 18 yards out. The Mustang defense set up a wall with 6 defenders 10 yards away, so midfielder Paige Martin laid it off to a waiting Emma Newton, who put a one-touch chip-shot over the wall and the keeper just below the crossbar at the back post, putting Lassen up 1-0.
Having broken the ice, Lassen began to pressure the goal more intensely. Forwards Lily Francois and Kristen Zamora kept the defense off-balance, and had many open shots on goal that were saved. The midfielders kept the ball forward most of the first half, and when it did slip through, stoppers Allie Maggarrell, Jamie Elliot, and Kaylee Dollar kept it from going to the fullbacks. By dominating the ball at midfield, the Mustangs were not given many chances to shoot on goal, and they went to half time down by one to the home team.
Given 10 minutes to rest and reset, Arsenal came to the second half ready to put the game away. After a few minutes of Lassen pressuring the goal, the Mustangs conceded a corner kick. Center defender Amber Jackson came up to cross the ball, which found Newton waiting at the back door, who made no mistake about finishing the goal.
Brittney Patton, who came out of the goal for the second half to play forward, dominated the left side with her strength, size, and passing. After pulling the defense to her, she made some excellent passes, one of which result in the second goals in two minutes by Newton, earning Newton a hat trick on the day.
With a 3-0 lead, Lassen looked to have the game in hand, and as the time went on, the Mustangs showed signs of wearing down. After several unsuccessful runs on goal, Zamora took a well-timed send past two defenders for a break away on goal. Unwilling to let the pursuing defender intimidate her, she passed the ball to the lower right hand corner, well past the reach of the Mustangs goal keeper, bringing the score to 4-0.
With the defense stepping up to keep all additional threats away from their keeper, and the forwards pressuring the goal until the end of the game, the Lassen Arsenal played their best game of the season. Through creative ball movement and aggressive play, they retain their first place standing and displayed a team effort. Lassen plays at Riverside Park on Saturday, Oct 18th at 2:00 against the Redding Fire.
