by Niki Cunningham
Sports Editor
e-reporter
Bob Nielsen
The U-14 Lassen Arsenal played their last home game of the season, hosting the Redding Fire at Riverside Park. With several injured players, several team members played different positions, most notably Lexie Stevens played as keeper as she was recovering from a sprained ankle from a Cross Country meet. Amber Jackson covered Stevens’ defensive position, and Brittney Patton started the game as a striker. In the beginning of the game, the team had to make a few adjustments. While Lassen was trying to get their passing game going, the Fire kept the ball in their offensive half of the field. The Arsenal Defensive three, led by Jackson, kept the ball away from the goal, and started several good counter-attacks that ended up with shots on goal.
In their previous match, the Fire went up 1-0 early in the game, but Lassen came back to win 4-1. Lassen didn’t allow the Fire to lead off the scoring this time. Once the Lassen ladies found their stride, the ball stayed more on their attacking half. The hustle of the midfield led to some exciting play. Midfielder Sierra Huskey attacked a loose ball near the half line, passing to midfielder Paige Martin, who sent a beautiful diagonal through ball into the box and Lassen finally broke the tie with a left footed finish by midfielder Jamie Elliot.
Not comfortable with a 1-0 lead, Lassen kept the pressure up. After just a couple of minutes, Lassen earned a corner kick. Jackson, who came out of the defense to take the kick, sent a lovely cross right in front of the goal. The ball bounced back out to a solitary Jackson (on her way back to the defense) at the top of the 18. She took control of the ball and sent a high shot over everyone that dropped in for Arsenal’s second goal of the day.
Down 2-0, the Fire quickly regrouped and started getting the ball down field. Within the next five minutes, Stevens had to field several shots and crosses. She did an excellent job blocking the initial shot, but one slipped out of her hands and several players converged on the ball. One of the Redding forwards got just enough of it to move it past the defenders towards the goal. Martin, covering the goal line, made an attempt to keep the ball from going into the goal, but couldn’t quite get enough of it and the ball made it over the goal line to bring the score to 2-1.
Reinvigorated, the Fire pressed forward through the end of the first half. The two offenses resorted to long sends and fewer passes, wearing down both offense and defense. The Lassen and Redding Defenses did well to deny any further scoring in the half.
After the halftime break, both teams came back onto the field poised and ready to score. While Lassen had more shots on goal in the second half, Redding controlled the passing game. They passed at will through the midfield, but defenders Jackson, Gabi Nielsen, Shannon Ferrall and kept the pressure off the Goalie through most of the half. Stevens came up with a couple of big saves to preserve the lead.
Offensively, the midfielders worked well with the strikers, and while several good opportunities were missed by inches, the Redding Defense also kept the ball out of their keeper’s hands for most of the half. Although frustrated and tired, the Arsenal offense never gave up. In fact, the offense was just getting ready to make another attack on goal when time was called, and Lassen came away with their 7th victory on the season. They play their final regular season game on Nov. 1st in Anderson against the Bone Crushers. A win will seal first place in the 8-team league.
Striker Kristin Zamora (Front) making a run on goal as Midfielder Emma Newton (back) races past the Redding defender with the ball.
