Annapolis Area Christian School won Thursday's semifinal, 4-1, over Key and its final on Saturday, 3-0, over Garrison Forrest

by Evan Roe

The reigning C Conference Champion Eagles of Annapolis Area Christian School ended Key School�s season for the second year in a row in girls soccer on Nov. 1.

One season after vanquishing the Obezags in the Conference finals, the Eagles came through again with a 4-1 victory in the semifinals.

The Eagles blanked Garrison Forest, 3-0, on Saturday to win their second straight C Conference title.

�We�ve really had a confidence-booster this whole week, it�s been great to finally finish on our shots,� said junior Kelly Ostergren, who knocked in the go-ahead goal in last year�s 1-0 championship.

In this rematch, the offense was clutch, with four different players tallying goals to raise the team�s playoff total to nine in two games. But such was not the case all year.

�In the four games we lost in the league, we doubled the other teams in shots,� said Annapolis Area head coach Paul Brophy. �We had one (against Mt. Carmel) where we outshot the other team 37-7, and lost 2-1. We knew if we could score, we�d win. I kept telling them, �If you just keep up the pressure, the goals will come.��

The first came in the 19th minute when freshman Allison Wesley shot from the far side of the box after a pass by Hillary Thompson. The goalkeeper was pulled off balance trying to adjust to the shot, her momentum carrying her to the ground as the ball trickled in.

Annapolis Area lengthened the lead with 17 minutes remaining in the half on a perfectly arced shot by Katie Lyons that sailed just over the goalie at the apex of her leap. Ostergren had the assist.

But the Obezags fought back, cutting the score to 2-1 with 9:40 to play in the half.

A breakdown in the Eagle defense allowed dangerous sophomore Jessica Greenwald to cut into the box on a free kick, heading the ball over the charging goalie.

Key came out firing on all cylinders in the second half, sustaining possession in Eagle territory and attempting two corner kicks in the first five minutes. Both attempts were unsuccessful, and the Eagles soon scored on their first second-half possession beyond midfield, a quick goal by Christie Valentine off an assist by Dani Mink after five-and-a-half minutes.

Valentine later set up the final score, chipping a ball into the box from the near side, which Ostergren headed in with 7:21 remaining.

The Obezags� biggest opportunity in the second half came in the 18th minute on a penalty kick by Kelly Foster, a low shot that was gobbled up by goalkeeper Lane Cheek.

�The performance of their goalkeeper (Cheek) was amazing � the penalty save and some of the stuff she was pulling out. She kept them in the game,� Key coach Chris Rixham said after the dust had settled.

Cheek�s performance was just part of an overall stellar defensive effort from a group that recorded eight regular season shutouts. Key kept the ball confined largely to the opposite side of the field for stretches, trading many short-lived possessions with the Eagles' midfield and defense.

Yet whenever the �Zags closed on the goal, the defenders pulled together to repel.

Brophy praised his defense, calling out seniors Kristie Barlow, Alex Devore, and Rachel Gruzinski. �They solidified the back and really stepped up in the playoffs," Brophy said.

 "[Hilary] Thompson and [Allie] Flamming have done a spectacular job shutting down the opponents� top attackers,� Brophy said of the defenders who keyed in on talented sophomores Greenwald and Caileigh Feldman.

�We knew we needed to shut [them] down� and then we could win the game as long as we put some balls in, which we were able to do tonight.�

Notes: The Eagles are now 3-0-1 against Key in the last two seasons.