Sunday, April 15, 2018

North Oconee Girls Put Away Panthers 2-1

On a day with a high bright sun, a strong southerly breeze, and the warmest temperatures of the season, the Lady Panthers of Jackson County High School visited North Oconee for a rare Saturday afternoon contest. Taking the pitch in high spirits, the Lady Titans soon began to flex their muscle. Callie Maughon scored early to give the Titans a 1-0 advantage. Keeping the pressure on the Panthers, the North Oconee girls created numerous scoring opportunities. Eventually Maughon was able to break free and find the net for her second goal. Half time found the score still at 2-0. The second half began much as the first with the North holding the upper hand for the most part. The Lady Titans demonstrated their pin point accuracy by showing how many times they could hit the cross bar. Not to be outdone, the Panthers showed they too could hit the cross bar and follow it up with a goal to boot. Finding the score a little too close for comfort, Coach Ben exhorted his ladies to bear down and tame the cats. Despite holding Jackson's girls at arm's length and continuing to attack the Panther's net, no more goals were to be had. The match concluded 2-1. 














Lady Titans Fall to Peachtree Ridge 2-0

Sorry but no report or pictures.

Sunday, April 1, 2018

Women of the North Slay Dragons: North Oconee-2 Jefferson-0

With a second place finish in region 8-4A up for grabs and the climatic roller coaster topping out in the hot zone, the Lady Titans traveled to Jefferson last Wednesday to engage the Lady Dragons of Jefferson High School. Both teams came into the game knowing that this contest was a make or break opportunity to establish their position within the region and set themselves up for post season success. The importance of the match and the strength of each squad was evident from the outset as the battle was hotly and physically contested mostly in the middle third. Only occasionally could one side or the other break through for a run at the goal. While opportunities were limited, North Oconee made the most of what they earned. Only 6 minutes into the tilt, Lilah Turk fought through the Jefferson defenses drawing the Dragons in only to lay out a gentle pass for an oncoming Callee Maughan who stroked the ball past the charging goalie for the score putting the Titans on top early on. Struggling against the heat and tenacious defense, neither team could find the net for the remainder of the half. The second half brought more of the same, but as the period wore on, there seemed a subtle shift in favor of the Lady Titans. After a throw in by Piper Cyterski deep in Dragon territory, the ball found its way through the scrum in front of the goal and into the reach of Hannah Weeks who drilled it in for the Titan's second score. Down 2-0, the Dragonettes could never recover and slowly wilted as play settled on their half of the pitch. The 2 hard won goals were all North Oconee would need to take the victory and the shutout. 
     


  












Monday, March 26, 2018

One is Enough - North Girls Defeat Lady Warriors 1-0

   The world remains spinning properly upon its axis after North Oconee's Lady Titans once again defeated the Lady Warriors of Oconee County High School Friday night. In what was a fiercely and passionately contested match, the women of the North continued their reign of soccer supremacy in the cross county rivalry. Kirby Smart himself would have been duly impressed by the level of physicality and intensity on display throughout the game. (He might want to use some video of the contest as inspiration for the Bulldogs). North Oconee scored the lone and deciding goal early in the first half. Credit goes to Lilah Turk for driving the ball past Warrior goalie Christen Wilson to secure the score, but even more credit belongs to Callee "AB" (Ankle Breaker) Maughan for finding Turk's foot with the excellent and hard won cross. Maughan left no fewer than 4 or possibly 5 Oconee defenders feeling used, abused, and confused on her way to the right corner. In spite of several very physical attempts by various Warriors to thwart her advance, #4 stopped and started, feinted and darted, in, around, and through them all. The deft footwork and determined drive would have been for naught had she not finished the drill with the accurate and playable cross. It was beautiful to behold.
   The battle continued through the first period and on into the second with both teams striving desperately to find any small crack, crevice, or crease they might exploit for a score. However, effective goalie work and swarming defense by both the Titans and the Warriors ruled the day going forward. As the match wore on, the sense of urgency and alarm grew within Oconee's squad becoming nearly palpable and their girls fought harder still but in the end North Oconee's stalwart defenders deflected every attempt and Taylor Frew once again earned the shutout in goal. Great job Lady Titans!














 

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Blown Away in Stephens County-Titans Defeat Indians 8-0

On a day that featured alternating extremes, the one constant was an unrelenting blustery wind. With the weather shifting from bright sunshine to brooding clouds spitting a stinging drizzle and back again, the level of play likewise transformed from one half to the next. A starched American flag held steady in the western end of the stadium as the two teams got down to business. Whether due to a persistent hangover from the St. Pius loss, the uncomfortable conditions, or some other unknowable vagary, the Lady Titans appeared lethargic, unenthusiastic, and out of sync. With the whipping gale at their backs, the superior North Oconee team easily maintained the possession in Indian territory rarely letting the ball escape midfield. Despite this advantage, the North Girls could never effectively attack the goal, misfiring numerous times until the half ended with the score at 1-0 for NOHS. The lone mark a gifted own goal provided by an unfortunate Indian. When play began in the second half, it was as if Dr. Jekyll's team of the first half had been subbed out for Mr. Hyde's all-american squad. Balls began to pepper the back of the Stephen's county net with frequent regularity. Whiffs, flubs and errant shots were replaced by accurate crosses, exquisite headers, laser beams and finely placed lobs. Andie Tiemeyer garnered a hat trick including two acrobatic headers. Callee Maughan tallied 2 scores while Khloe Black and Hannah Weeks registered one mark each. Ms. Week's goal also came on a very nice forehead punch. This reporter failed to keep track of those responsible for all the assists but they deserve much credit as well. Final score North Oconee-8 and Stephens County-0. Let's all hope Mr. Hyde returns with his girls on Friday when the Lady Titans face off against their cross county rivals of Oconee County High. Go Titans!