WA 2 @ JI 1


A more in depth analysis of the game will follow, probably from a number of people. First, this was not pretty soccer, and during most of the first half James Island was absolutely dominant driving the ball and crossing. Gosnell's pretty shot on the assist from Lisa Frawley was, however, the only tangible return on 30 minutes of domination. WA, after this, played more aggressively, and their goal with seconds left was the result of a handball in the box with Bolt pushing the pk past the JI keep into the right corner. WA adjusted personelle and their formation for the start of the second half and played a very even 40 minutes, though JI kept the ball in and around the WA box for about 8 hair raising minutes in the middle of the half. The winning goal was scored at 30 minutes into the second half on a highly lofted clearing pass by WA sweeper Danielle Jordan over the JI defense to Alexis Brothers who caught up with the ball and found the JI keep just out of position to either play the ball or get back in goal. A hard one touch pushed the ball past her to the left corner of the net. The game was more physical than to my liking with most of the contact favoring JI and most of it uncalled. James Island's team play was crisper, but in the end the individual play of WA, based on a swarming team defense (Gillespie, Abbatte, Lee, Thomas, Purvis... I'd have to name almost every player) held a very potent JI squad to a single goal.

Again, West Ashley has given us a great "Doin It the Hard Way" 1 goal victory. James Island finishes a great season and played for much of tonight's games as the better team on the field. WA, however put it in the net more and that is what matters. On to Columbia!!! The Doin' It the Hard WAy tour rolls on!!!