The Colleton County Lady Cougar Soccer team capped off their season with a 3-1 win on Senior Night over Colleton Prep Academy Friday April 30. Colleton County finished the season 3-6 overall and 0-6 in Region VII-AAAA. Friday evening’s game against the War Hawks was a friendly event where players reunited from past seasons playing in the local Wildfire league.
The Lady Cougars fell 3-1 to Region VII opponent Lucy Beckham Wednesday April 28. Trailing 2-0 at the half, senior Anne Mathis Thomas scored from near midfield to put the Lady Cougars on the board trailing 2-1. Lucy Beckham would score once more before the end of regulation.
“Lucy Beckham was a very hard-fought game,” said Coach Danielle Van Hulst. “In the first half our team was still asleep. Trailing 2-0 at half, the ladies knew they had to wake up or the game would slip away. Lucy Beckham was able to capitalize on our mistakes which hurt us.”
“After an intense halftime meet, the girls finally woke up and met Lucy Beckham,” said Van Hulst. “Lucy Beckham was playing very fast and up and across the field, something that we have been defending all year. They looked like a team that could have competed for region if they did not get shut down. The game quickly became physical with our girls stepping and making tackles like we needed in the first half. We finally started playing our game – just a little too late. We were able to defend and try to attack. The girls started putting passes together, but because of the last two weeks and playing multiple games with 13 people, plus our subs playing with injuries, we were struggling to move up the field with speed.”
“Finally, we were able to get a few shots off,” said Van Hulst. “Within the last ten minutes Anne Mathis Thomas followed up a play that was made by her own team that happened to hit off the defender and offer a perfect pass right back to her right foot – which was the last thing you saw. She placed the ball perfectly over the keeper’s head to give us hope to continue to fight the rest of the game.”
“Even though we lost, seeing the improvement game to game is the most rewarding of all,” said Van Hulst. “I am happy the girls are finally understanding that statement. Amaya LaPresta came up big with 23 saves, some of these saves were fantastic and I am really hoping she sticks it out and continues to play in goal. She puts her heart into the game, and the team can see that. Because of that, the team has been playing and fighting until the end.”
Against Colleton Prep Friday, April 30, the Lady Cougars got off to slow start, but Sierra Obenaus scored three goals with multiple assists. Amaya LaPresta had 11 saves in goal.
“We started slow against CPA and had to get ourselves out of the feelings of Senior Night,” said Van Hulst. “We were lucky CPA could not capitalize on putting the ball away. They were passing around us but were getting unlucky. They had a couple shots I thought were going in until Amay LaPresta got fingertips on them. We were getting passes up and through and were making plays towards the goal and even got shots off, but CPA’s goalkeeper was doing her job all night and I applaud her. I was congratulating her on the sideline for the multiple saves.”
“Our first goal came from Sierra Obenaus and started with our throw into our senior back Dorothy Dessoye who sent the ball up to Sierra, who dropped the ball back to Jeana Matthews,” said Van Hulst. “Jeana sent the ball into the box, we were lucky enough that CPA trapped the ball right to Sierra. In the second half, we came out to play. We made adjustments in the formation that started to work and had multiple shots on goal. Seniors, Kaylee Reimel and Anne Mathis Thomas added to our shot mix, but were just unlucky.”
“Our seniors were determined – even Dorothy Dessoye surprised me and made runs up from the back to attempt to shoot,” said Van Hulst. “The team started to play the modified formation we talked about two weeks ago and that is when I realized the girls started coaching me. In the second half, the girls ran themselves like any team should and made me proud as a coach. Our second goal came off a long ball from Dessoye to Obenaus who played it wide to Matthews who then played it perfectly back to Sierra off a wall pass. Obenaus had pressure on her and made the pass backward to Rus Blackshaer. Blackshaer played the ball back to Obenaus for goal number two and would later add another goal.”
“Colleton Prep has truly improved also,” said Van Hulst. “They definitely tested us in this game and made us step-up a gear.”
“Our coaches have seen the improvement this team made across the season,” said Van Hulst. “We play in a very hard region, against teams that play together year-round. Hopefully we can continue to build on this, and all the girls come back ready next year. We have three big positions to fill losing these seniors.”
