RECAP - Scrimmage With Veterans Is In The Books

It was a cool clear evening at Freedom Field with a nice size crowd on hand.  The Lady Bears found themselves in a 0-3 hole after 40 minutes of play, but did not let that deter them from making it an exciting match.  In the second half the Lady Bears stormed back with 3 unanswered goals from Stevie Rigby, Val'Dazia Todd, and Maddy Davis.  Marissa Molnar was exceptional in goal during that span. Veterans did not waiver however, finding their groove again, like the first half, and finished strong with two more goals. Final was 5-3 in Warhawks favor, but you can see the potential for our Ladies to make plays, even when down several goals. Coach Devoursney was pleased with much of the play and used this scrimmage to test his new players at various positions.   In match #2, Coach Stephen Edwards and Assistants John Trepanier and Mike Pinto made their debut with HoCo Soccer. It seemed as though the boys picked up where they left off last season with stellar defense, possession minded midfield, and ability to score in a number of ways. One new wrinkle this year appears to be the Bears forward thinking with many run-on balls served to the forwards. In the 6', former keeper, now winger, Michael Koohang credited the first goal for the men at Freedom Field after a nice cross from Hunter Henry and then a blocked shot from Tucker Mercier that Koohang finished nicely.  Several missed shots occurred by the Bears while its stonewall defense led by Tim Freeman and Clayton Martin plucked the Warhawk's numerous attempts, making it 1-0 at half.  In the second half, Heath Henry drained two goals in a 3 minute span with assists from Mercier (deflection) and Hunter Henry.  Hunter followed with another assist to Mercier at the 55' mark.  Veterans looked as though a goal would happen for them when their winger was fouled just inside the 18, but Declan Furlough made true on his pregame statement, "I want a clean sheet tonight" when he blocked a very well placed PK shot by form GA State Cup team mate, Max Wilkins.  Seconds later the ball ended at the feet of Forward, Hunter Henry, on the opposite end who was also fouled in the box on an attempted shot. His PK shot found the back of the net making it 5-0, Bears. Then with 10 minutes remaining, Freshman, Alex Chmelo, got his first high school varsity goal from 25 yards away over an unsuspecting keeper and just under the bar. Pretty goal to finish a positive outing for the Bears.  On Tuesday they travel to Alpharetta to take on the Raiders for first regular season match of 2017. Bear Down!  Lady Bears kickoff at 5:55pm and Bears at 8:00pm.  See you there! Bear Down...

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