Recap
Medford, OR — In a very heated last game of the season, the Challenger ladies left everything they had out on the field. From the start we played controlled and aggressive soccer, winning our duels, and creating opportunities to score. Brookings has some good talent but our backline defenders played their best game of the season, shutting them out completely. Mae Ferreira along with Amelia Vanlandingham played center back and on numerous occasions sprinted, battled, and won clearance after clearance. Alongside them Ryann Deboer and Brynn Coppedge played their best games all season, keeping the Bruins' wingers from making their usual breakaways down the line.
Going into half tied 0-0, you could tell that the Challengers felt confident, like they had Brookings exactly where they wanted them. Junior captains Jordynn Jones and Emma Coats teamed up on numerous occasions with balls played down the line that created shots on goal. Sophomores Sienna Wilcox and Aubrey Hess had terrific attacking moments, and were very close to scoring.
As the second half became more physical a terrific ball was crossed into the Brookings' goal box where Sienna Wilcox diverted it toward goal. The keeper for Brookings was their MVP making an incredible save that deflected back into the box, where a defender handled the ball and won the Challengers a PK. Aubrey Hess stepped up and placed it to a side that the Brookings GK guessed correctly, stopping her effort.
On another occasion a defender forcefully pulled down Center Forward Anglica Arce as she drove down the middle, earning the Bruin a yellow card and a direct Free Kick for CCHS. The effort was put over the net as another chance on goal was unsuccessful.
Then only a short time later, Emma Coats had a breakaway on goal that the MVP Bruins Keeper came out to challenge. As Coats made her move, the keeper slid down and took out Coats' ankles, missing the ball completely. This clear goal scoring chance, broken up by an illegal action, should have been a red card which would have changed the course of the game. Instead, a yellow card was issued and the Challengers continued to play their hearts out until the final whistle.
All around so many girls played exceptionally, showing their growth over the season, including Taylor Folin in the midfield and forward position whose efforts the team agreed earned her an MVP. Josie Scaglione our third captain, had another terrific game shutting out Brookings in goal. Madyson Winters in holding midfield showed great poise and control defensively and in support of the attack. And each and every sub gave their all for each minute they earned, including: Vivian Fortier, Gwen VanWart, and Emma Matters.