BY RYAN O'CONNOR
It was a scene you’d most often see following a championship game. One team was elated; the other sat quietly in disbelief.
But it wasn’t a title game, nor did it have immediate postseason implications. It was, in fact, a mid-season Class L match-up.
But for the Lady Grizzlies soccer team, it was a stepping stone, not only for this season but for the program’s future.
On Friday, Sept. 21, the undefeated Little Green of Central traveled to Goffstown, where the 2-5 hosts played the more talented, more experienced Little Green to a 1-1 tie.
“It’s girls soccer. Anything can happen on any day,” said Goffstown head coach Larry Houghton.
Though Central coach Peter Lally reminded his players they were still undefeated following the game, he could have fooled Goffstown, an enthusiastic bunch showing little fatigue following the 100-minute contest.
“I think they were a stronger team, faster, and maybe a little bit more athletic, but we maintained our composure,” said Houghton. “We didn’t just give up and start booting the ball. We tried to possess it, and when we had a breakaway, it wasn’t just one or two girls moving up the field, it was the whole team.”
As the minutes ticked off the game clock in the double-overtime match, the Little Green’s fatigue seemed to grow. The Grizzlies appeared to become more energetic.
In the 34th minute, with Central leading 1-0, Andy Foley took the ball and fed freshman Emily Ellis, who evened the contest with her sixth goal of the season, a low liner to the right side of the net.
Though the opposition controlled play for at least 90 percent of the match-up, Houghton gave credit to his backfield.
“We gave them just enough pressure that their shots were a little errant,” said Houghton. “If we had given them one more step, they’re in the back of the net.”
Junior Julie Clark, in her first year in goal, anchored the defense with 24 saves.
Moreover, after he lost one of his key defensive players, Sara Hartwell, to injury in a previous game, Houghton said he moved his star offensive player, Stephanie Baker, to the backfield, where she excelled against Central.
He also moved midfielder Nikki Wilkinson so she could continue playing alongside Baker.
“Just keeping them on the same side, they work so well together. They talk. They were able to stay very composed on the other side, knowing each other and what they could give up and take away,” said Houghton. “I usually like to have both of them up front, but today I knew we needed a little more defense and a little more composure in the back(field).”