News|Schedule / Results|Roster|Officers & Coaches|

HAWKS BATTLE BACK FROM TWO GOAL HALFTIME DEFICIT TO TIE QWEST IGNITION 5-5!

Box Score

May. 22, 2012

Saturday, May 19 - In a battle of undefeated teams at the top of the U10 A1 girls division, the 6-0-0 Hawks took on the 4-0-1 Qwest Ignition last Saturday morning.  As has been their habit lately, the Hawks gave up an early goal to put them in a 1-0 hole.  Later, they found themselves down 3-1 at halftime, and the hopes for of a division title were slipping away.  But as they've shown in the past, this group of 9-year-olds are fighters.  In a 5 minute span, the Hawks blasted in 3 consecutive goals to take a 4-3 lead in a game that ultimately ended tied at 5-5.

Two minutes into the game, the Hawks allowed a Qwest forward to cut down the middle of the field and score.  It was a disappointing way to open the game, but that disappointment would double a few minutes later.  A ball was played up to an open Qwest forward, who clearly settled the ball with her right hand, took a dribble into the Hawks penalty box, and finished into the corner to make it 2-0.  The referee claimed that she missed the call, which seemed unbelievable since she was standing 10 feet away.  The Hawks had no choice but to move on, quickly turning up the pressure on the Qwest defense.  Hot off her 5-goal game against LUFC, Olivia blasted a shot from the left side that bounced off the keeper's hands.  McKenzie was there to clean it up, knocking it home to cut the lead to 2-1.  That momentum was short-lived as Qwest came back, blasting a shot from distance high into the corner to make it 3-1 Qwest.

At halftime, Coach Duke implored the Hawks to keep pushing, one goal at a time.  If they were to come back and tie Qwest, the Hawks would still win the division with a win the next day against Futura Galaxy.  Despite being down two goals, the Hawks actually outshot the Ignition in that first half, so the team was confident they could do it.

A few minutes into the second half, an unlikely source got the Hawks back in it.  A ball was played out of the Qwest penalty box to Delaney, who took a quick dribble to her right, and hit an absolute bomb to the upper left corner of the goal.  It was the speedy defender's first goal of the season, and it couldn't have come at a better time, especially with lots of family on hand.

Delaney's goal sent a surge of energy into the Hawks, as they suddenly began to dominate play.  Malia came off the bench and played her best ball of the season, and it was her left-footed cross that set up the next goal.  Olivia was on the other end of Malia's cross, and she touched it past the keeper to tie the game at 3-3.  A minute later, it was McKenzie and Olivia working a gorgeous give-and-go, as Olivia took McKenzie's final pass and deposited it into the Qwest goal for a 4-3 Hawks lead.  Just like that, in a span of about 5 minutes, the Hawks led 4-3.

To their credit, Qwest fought back, scoring to make it 4-4.  The Hawks kept up the pressure, with Mikayla making several good runs up front, and Lauren H and Arlee giving good minutes in the back.  Alivia and Delaney both played spectacular games, stepping up to meet Qwest punts, and hustling back to cut off the speedy Qwest forwards. 

Finally, with only minutes left in the game, a ball was blasted from short range towards the Hawks goal, with Delaney in the way.  She instinctively raised her hands and the ball deflected off her forearm and out of bounds.  The referee on that side took a second and started to point to the corner for a Qwest corner kick.  Suddenly, a Qwest mother on that sideline screamed "Handball!", and a second later, the young referee blew his whistle and signaled for a penalty kick.  Coach Duke was stunned at the reversal, and though Kirsten gave a great effort, the kick was successful to make it 5-4 Qwest.

With only a minute left, the Hawks made one last great push.  Fighting for every ball, the Hawks defenders delivered the ball up to the forwards.  McKenzie got the ball and drove into the Qwest box, hitting a rocket shot from close range.  The Qwest keeper was able to deflect it to her right, where Mikayla came storming in.  The determined lefty carried the ball across the goal to tie the game at 5-5, and a minute later, the final whistle blew!

It was a somewhat disappointing but ultimately exhilarating game for the Hawks.  Coach Duke told the girls how proud he was of them for fighting back after falling behind, and how they also dealt with all of the adversity (physical Qwest players, shaky refereeing).  They responded like champions, but would likely need to bring that same type of effort the next day against the Futura Galaxy...