Xtreme Deflect Lightning

Sam Derby goes one on one.

On Saturday November 11, the Garden City Xtreme hosted the Long Beach Lightning at St. Pauls. The Xtreme have been concentrating on getting strong starts with the opening whistle. In this match, the team came through with the game plan as Colette Seel scored two goals in the first minute and forty-five seconds. Throughout the match, the team exhibited superb defense play, along with accurate and well timed passing. This resulted with the Xtreme winning the match 7-0.

At the start of the match, the Xtreme put instant pressure on the Lightning defense by winning a majority of the 50/50 balls. With possession, Jenna Codignotto and Colette used a few combination passes to get the ball into the Long Beach penalty area. Quickly they forced a corner for their team. In usual fashion, Deanna DiPierro played the corner kick perfectly into the six yard box and Colette one timed it into the goal. Within minutes, Lauren Miesemer went a brilliant cross to the far post where Collette received and shot the ball past the keeper for her second goal. At this point, the Lightning defense and their skilled keeper did start to defend their goal better. They held the Xtreme scoreless for fifteen minutes and were able to go on the attack a few times. When they came into the Xtreme half of the field, Katie Roscoe, Cara Adams, Alison Holfester and Deanna stopped their progress before they got into shooting range. The Xtreme ended the drought when Lauren fired the team's third goal into the net.

Alison Holfester goes to goal.

In the second half, the Xtreme wore down the Lightning defense with their constant offensive pressure. The blocks regularly hit their target players, which in turn had the forwards distributing the ball to their teammates going on the attack. Isabel McKeown, Deanna, Sam Derby and Alison all scored second half goals. Sam Miesemer was in at right forward and sent some awesome crosses into the 6 yard box. Joanna Sokolovic hustled all over the field winning numerous 50/50 balls.

The team continues to play better soccer week after week. The timing of the attacking runs, the way they defend their goal as a team and the confidence of their keepers is wonderful to watch.

Deanna DiPierro dribbled the ball. Alison Holfester, Colette Seel, Joanna Sokolovic, Cara DiPierro. The Xtreme players celebrate their win.