Chantilly Fuego!

September 14, Huntingtown, MD 

The Fuego opened the Fall 2013 season with a strong come-from-behind victory over the CSA Fever in Southern Maryland Saturday.

The game had barely begun when the Fuego suddenly found themselves down 1-0 to the surprisingly fast, aggressive Fever.  But despite being behind early, the Fuego played calm, steady soccer, using short passes and timely runs to counter the Fever’s speed. 

Beverly, Morgan, Nina, Julia (playing without cleats) and Aby worked several smooth combinations along the left side. Kennia, Halle, Rachel and Sabrine showed similar skill on the right, while Kristen cruised in front of the Fever defenders looking for space to run.

But the Fever players kept the pressure on, forcing the Fuego defenders to retreat into their own zone.  Caroline, playing her usual calm, measured game, came up with several big plays to help out the defense.

As the half wore on, the Fuego began to get the edge.  Karina worked a nifty give and go with Melissa and raced deep into the left corner with support from Beverly.  Rhi sent Sabrine deep into the right corner, where Sabrine tired to work the ball back into the middle, feeding Amanda for a quick shot that was blocked.  Halle jumped on a ball and drove deep into Fever territory for a shot.

The Fuego finally broke through when Aby gathered the ball in the middle and fed Amanda near the top of the penalty circle.  Amanda fought off a Fever defender and slid a soft pass through the defense and right in front of Kristen, who wasted no time in hammering the equalizer into the net.

Moments later Kristen nearly got another one when Amanda hit her with another pass near the penalty spot, but Kristen was falling when she got the shot off, so the goalie was able to get it, and the half ended knotted at one.

The Fever came out strong in the second half, and a Fever striker fought off terrific defending by Kennia and Halle to sneak a ball between Caroline and the near post.

The Fuego responded with increased pressure and short passing.  Then the Fuego started to work the ball down the sides, and the feild opened up.  Rachel got off a couple of blistering shots from the middle of the field that nearly found the net.

Then about midway through the half, Rhi found Julia in the middle of the field.  Julia sent the ball into space along the right, and Nina beat the defender and drove deep, then cut back and found Frankenball winner Rachel in the middle.  Rachel spotted Karina racing up the left and slid a perfect pass onto Karina’s foot.  Karina blasted a ball from 25 yards out that curled into the upper corner of the net for her first goal as a Fuegan.

But the Fuego weren’t done.  Keeping the pressure on, the Fuego got the ball deep into the left corner.  Kirsten worked the ball over to Sabrine, who passed back to Beverly on the outside.  Beverly spotted Julia in the middle and fed her with a perfect pass.  Julia lofted a perfect ball over the goalie’s head and into the net, giving the Fuego the lead with about three minutes to play.

That left the job to the defense, and they were up to the task.  Kennia, Halle, Morgan and Beverly, with help from Melissa, Aby, Nina and Sabrine, fought off several strong charges by the Fever to secure the win.

It was a terrific team win to start the season.  Up next, the powerful PWSI Courage.