The girls soccer team defeated the 11-2-1 Gaithersburg Trojans 3-2 Nov. 2, securing a spot in the regional final with an overall record of 12-2.
The Vikes entered the game with a lot of energy, putting immediate pressure on the Trojans. Despite a strong headwind, the Vikes maintained control of possession on offense, getting several shots on goal. Within the first six minutes of the game, forward Clare Severe scored the Vikes’ first goal on a header off of midfielder Aliza Wolfe’s corner well-placed corner kick.
The rest of the half was a flurry of activity on both sides. Defenders Emily Martin, Lottie Nalls, Bahar Ulusan and Lindsay Wytkind were vigorous in stopping the advancements of the Trojan offense and sent the ball back up the field out of danger. The half ended with the Vikes in the lead, 1-0.
The Vikes came into the second half even more amped up than they were at the start of the game. With the wind at their backs, the girls were quick to score again when midfielder Aliza Wolfe sunk the ball into the net from about 15 yards out.
The team maintained possession on the Trojans’ half, frustrating the opposing players.
“We just tried to possess it as much as possible,” Wolfe said. “We did a very good job when we kept the ball.”
A few minutes after Wolfe’s goal, forward Emma Anderson, backing down her defender, opened herself up to a throw-in from forward Clare Severe, turned swiftly and nailed the ball into the upper left corner. With 30 minutes left in the game, the Vikings had a 3-0 lead.
Their energy began to waver, however, and as a result, the Trojans gradually were able to possess more on the Vikes’ half.
“We can’t let up for one second of the game or we’re going to get penalized for it,” Wolfe said.
The Trojans scored two goals off direct kicks later in the second half, but with about ten minutes left, the Vikes took control of the ball and resumed quick passing around the Trojans, creating several more opportunities to score.
No more goals were scored though, and the Vikes emerged victorious, with a final score of 3-2.
“They were a tough competition, and it was a good lesson for us to learn,” Wolfe said.
The Vikes will face off against their cross-county rival and four-time defending state champions, the 11-3 B-CC Barons, Nov. 4 in the regional finals at Walter Johnson at 7.
