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Home » Girls' Soccer News

#4 Lady Titans shutout Florence in opener

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The 2008-09 season for the Lady Titans began on the road with a November 4th date at Florence. Earlier in the day, the Clarion Ledger ranked Ridgeland as the #4 team in the state and top rated team in 4A just ahead of #6 district rival Pearl.

The scoring began in the 17th minute of play when fullback Allison Bunch stole a pass in the middle third of the field and drove up the left sideline. She centered the ball to a cutting Allison Ayers who laid the ball off behind the defense. Forward Olivia Travis laced a one-touch blast into the net giving Ridgeland a quick 1-0 lead.

At the 21 minute mark, forward Sloan Bancroft took a shot from distance that was pushed out of bounds by the Florence keeper setting up the Lady Titans' first corner kick of the year. Bancroft took the ensuing kick. Ayers headed the pass on goal, and the rebound came down in a pack of players. Midfielder Mary-Ashton Lembo struck the ball as midfielder Morgan Webb and three Florence defenders screened off the keeper. Her shot connected and gave the Lady Titans a 2-0 advantage.

The aggressive play of fullbacks Carmen Bofill, Rhae'ven Ellis, Hanna Harris, Haley Britt and Bunch allowed very little offense to the Lady Eagles. Keeper C.J. Winship faced and stopped only four shots on goal with none coming inside her 18-yard box for her first shutout of the year.

"I thought we started off a little slow in getting used to our positions and responsibilities," said new head coach Craig Winship. "There is a difference in playing each other in practice and other people. The girls needed to see what has been good for us in practice can indeed work in games. I felt like Rachel Harris anchored our defensive midfield and Mary-Ashton (Lembo) came off the bench to provide a very energetic spark to the offense."

The three stars of the game were Travis, Lembo and Bofill. Travis, and eighth grade forward, was the highest rated player of the night and scored the game-winning goal. It was her first career game-winner. Lembo, another eighth grader, scored the second goal and forced play in the offensive end most of the night. Bofill, a junior fullback, anchored the backline while making three offensive runs and three last man defending tackles.

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