Battlefield Knocks Valley From Girls Soccer Unbeaten Ranks

Purcellville (Apr. 30, 2009) – For the first 37 minutes Wednesday the Loudoun Valley High School girls soccer team showed Battlefield why it came into the contest undefeated as the Vikings, buoyed by a goal from junior striker Ashley Manning in the 5th minute, dominanted possession and put an almost relentless pressure on the Bobcat goal.

Battlefield, on a six-game winning streak of its own, turned things around with a well-earned penalty kick with three minutes to go in the half — converted by sophomore Kelsey Trace — and with a halftime adjustment the Bobcats played the Vikings even in the second half and escaped with a 2-1 victory after sophomore Nikki Jeffries converted another penalty kick in the 60th minute.

Loudoun Valley coach Kerry Davidson was very curious after the game to watch film of the game, especially the disptued foul which led to the game-winning PK, but she acknowledged that her team had its chances, especially in the first half. Either way the game didn’t affect the AAA Cedar Run standings as only the second meeting counts towards the district title and Loudoun Valley (9-1-0) will travel to Haymarket a week from Friday to face Battlefield (8-2-1) again.

Don’t be fooled, however, non-district or not, the girls on both sides were playing for keeps Wednesday as it was a physical game played in a light rain that let up after the break.

“Anytime you play a district opponent, whether it counts or not, you are going to want to get that victory,” said Battlefield coach Kevin Hilton.

Battlefield, a young team with no seniors on the roster, started the year 1-2-1 but the Bobcats have out-scored opponents, 27-2, since then in seven straight wins.

The Bobcats came into the game Wednesday without injured junior defender Abby Lee and it appeared it would cost them in the middle as the crafty Manning split the defense early and slotted home a goal — the first allowed by Battlefield in six games.

Scoring is nothing new for Manning (15 goals on the season) and the Vikings, which have poured in 44 goals and given up just four scores, including the two PKs Wednesday.

“We knew that Ashley Manning up top was a threat,” said Bobcat junior midfielder Aly Shaughnessy.

It was Shaughnessy who played a big role in the second half, shifting back to defense and closely marking Manning. Valley was also hurt by the fact that left wing Danielle Stephens was playing through an injury after spending much of the first half, making runs down the sidelines and serving up balls into the middle for Manning and LV freshman forward Tabitha McHale. With both Manning and McHale getting less touches on the bal lin the second half, the Bobcats were able to connect passes to their midfield.

The game-winning PK came after a Battlefield corner kick taken by Shaughnessy was played across the 18 and a Bobcat and Viking went up for it and the ball was deflected towards the Valley near post. The ball skittered through three Valley defenders and may have nicked a defender to shift direction slightly, putting the Viking keeper just off the line of the ball. Battlefield forward Dominique Evans fielded the ball inside the six on a hop with her back to the goal and actually had it sandwiched between her knees when the Viking keeper slid into left plant foot, sending both players in an awkward heap.

Despite the contact it wasn’t clearly a PK — at least to the players as Evans jumped up to play the ball and the Viking defense surrounded her before the official whistled the foul. 

Perhaps Valley’s best shot at extending their lead in the first half came on a nice build-up with passes up the right flank from McHale to sophomore Taylor Payne to freshman Lucy Etro back to McHale, who then sprung Manning loose in the box. Manning was in one-on-one with the Bobcat keeper only to be denied on a sliding save. The ball deflected to McHale who slotted it past the downed keeper only to have Shaughnessy clear the ball off the line.