Dohoney Scores Early To Give Monument Mountain Girls Win in Opener
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. -- The Monument Mountain girls soccer team got its season off to a fast start on Saturday afternoon.
Things slowed down from there.
But Abby Dohoney's goal in the third minute of the game was all the offense Monument Mountain needed in a 1-0 win over Mount Everett.
The Spartans earned a 14-1 advantage in shots on goal and held the Eagles in their defensive third most of the afternoon.
But Dohoney was the only player to solve Mount Everett keeper Emma Goewey.
"Saying we had a little trouble finishing is an understatement," Monument Mountain coach Peter Lopez said with a laugh. "We had a lot of trouble finishing. I don't have the numbers, but I'd love to know how many shots we had and how many actually went on goal.
"It's just one of those days. I liked a lot of our combination play. We clearly had a better first half than second half."
Maybe the best chance the Spartans had to put another goal across in the first half came in the 30th minute when Emma Soule had an open look but found the post.
Goewey did make seven other saves in a half in which the Spartans allowed no shots on net.
After half-time, Mount Everett's Julianna Valentini got a shot on goal off a run up the left wing, and the Eagles earned a couple of late corner kicks after putting some pressure on the Spartans' defense.
Lopez warned his players that their one-goal lead at half-time was precarious.
"I told my players, 'If I'm the other team, I'm going to absorb this pressure and get two shots on goal, one of them is going to go in and we'll tie,' " he said. "And that's essentially what they did."
Mount Everett coach Josh King was encouraged to see his team keep grinding and push the ball into the offensive zone when it finally got some openings late.
"The first half was a little scary," King said. "I think sometimes it's just jitters and these guys getting a little used to playing again in a more competitive style. But I think once they started believing in themselves and playing as a group, they're a pretty good group of kids."
The game's one goal came off the only second chance Goewey allowed the Spartans. Dohoney was able to take advantage of a bobble just outside the 6-yard box to score the game-winner.
"I think that was a lack of communication on our defensive end because we lost track of that girl," King said. "We shouldn't have let her get a touch. We should have picked her up a little earlier. But that's one of those things -- if they keep playing, keep working great things will happen. I was just proud of them for today's effort."
And Lopez was happy to see his players enjoy a chance to get back on the field.
"Honestly, I think for everything these players have been through, they played a joyful first half, knocking the ball around," Lopez said. "It's good we got a goal early. And we look forward. Like I told them: Rest up. We've got a game on Tuesday and a game on Thursday and then 22 hours later, we've got a game against Wahconah."
Monument Mountain plays Mount Greylock on Monday Tuesday, Mount Everett goes to BCC on Tuesday to play Wahconah.