Brattleboro Edges Hoosac Valley in Bennington, Vt.
BENNINGTON, Vt. -- Three games into the season, the Hoosac Valley girls soccer team is still looking for its first goal.
The good news is that its goals-against number is definitely trending in the right direction.
After allowing 12 goals in its first two games, the Hurricanes Saturday dropped a 1-0 decision to Brattleboro in the consolation game of the 20th annual Mount Anthony Tournament.
But despite having the ball in the Colonels’ end for long stretches of both halves, the Hurricanes managed just a pair of shots on goal.
“We just don’t have somebody who’s going to pull the trigger,” Hoosac Valley coach Kathy Budaj said. “We’ve got to pull the trigger. We’re not shooting the ball.
“It’s been tough competition, and I’m all for playing tough competition. That shows us what we need to work on, which I’m all good with. But, again, in a game like this, we have to shoot the ball or we’re not going to win games.”
Hoosac Valley’s first two losses were at perennial Western Mass power Monson and Vermont’s Burr & Burton Academy of Manchester, Vt.
Neither side had much success generating quality offensive chances in the early going on Saturday.
Brattleboro had the first good look at the goal in the 17th minute when CC Allembert had a try from deep on the right wing that went into the side panel.
Eight minutes later, Karyssa Charon took Hoosac Valley’s first shot on goal, but Brattleboro’s Jenna Powers was there to make a low-pressure save.
Allembert did not miss the next time she had an open look at the net. With 1 minute, 29 seconds left in the first half, she finished a run up the right wing by firing a shot past Hoosac keeper Emma Meczywor (10 saves) to put Brattleboro on top for good.
Hoosac Valley’s most dangerous opportunity to tie the game came off a Tia Kareh direct free kick from 35 yards out that got behind Powers in traffic. But a Brattleboro defender was able to clear the ball for a Hoosac Valley corner kick.
Down the stretch, Meczywor kept the Hurricanes within a goal by making a diving stop in the 70th minute and denying a Brattleboro forward at the top of the 18 in the 74th minute.
Frequently, the ninth-grader ranged outside the 18 to play balls with her feet, something that Budaj has encouraged.
“We’re telling her, don’t just hang in goal,” Budaj said. “You’ve got to work with your defenders and help them out by coming out. And she’s been doing a very nice job for us. As a freshman, she’s doing a great job. I can’t say enough.”
Hoosac Valley (0-3) hosts Palmer on Monday.