The CSAS Patriots’ 5-0 win over the visiting East Ridge Pioneers was a relatively stress-free
endeavor for the home team. Coach David Poss’ team controlled play throughout the game and
especially in the first 20 minutes, when Cheyenne Frye’s immaculate flights from the wing
created two goals in rapid succession.

The first goal was an example of perseverance, with Frye sending a fine ball into the waiting
feet of forward Jensen Ware. East Ridge goalkeeper Nia Barnes initially kept Ware’s first try out
of the net. However, after East Ridge failed to clear the ball, Ware took several more shots in
rapid succession. After multiple tries, the ball finally got past the keeper.

The second score bore an uncanny resemblance to the first, with another fine Frye pass being
corralled by a teammate mere feet away from the goal. After Kendall Kroll had initial difficulties
getting the pass under control while being accosted by all sides, she eventually was able to
power the ball into the net for yet another score.

“That’s something we’ve been trying to get better at,” coach Poss said. “If we make our wings
dangerous, that will open up some slotted passes, and that’s something we’ve been trying to
work on.”

East Ridge, on the other hand, was unable to establish any sense of control or rhythm in the
first half. Whenever they would have the all, one of their deeper-lying players tended to go for
the proverbial “home run.” These long passes to isolated forwards were, unfortunately for the
Pioneers, fruitless exercises all night long.

On one such pass in the 29th minute, the seemingly-unstoppable Lucy Lopez was racing
downfield, flanked CSAS’ two centerbacks in Izobel Phillips and Tania Humphrey. The two
deepest defenders expertly cut off the girl who scored five goals last week, and shattered any
dream East Ridge had of taking advantage of the counterattack.

“I think that they recognized that was a problem area for us, and tonight we did a much better
job,” coach Poss said. “It’s interesting because we had an injury to a centerback, and one of
those back there tonight was not a natural centerback but still did a great job of shutting that
down.”

After gaining another goal a few minutes before halftime, the Patriots came out in the second
half and wasted little time in asserting themselves post-break. East Ridge’s inability to clear the
ball away from their own net became a focal point in the 55th minute. A short kick by the
goalkeeper directed the ball to Phillips, who stood 20-odd yards away from goal.

While her shot had some juice behind it, the volley also had touch, with the ball arcing
frightfully high before softly descending just above the goalkeeper’s hands. Phillips seemed
almost shocked by the outcome, hardly celebrating and instead jogging back to the middle of
the field with a smile on her face.

Senior forward Camille Conley closed the scoring deluge a mere minute later, when she tucked
away the Patriot’s fifth and final goal of the night. For the rest of the game, CSAS seemed
content to play defense and walk away with the win.

“We’ve turned a corner and hopefully we’ll be playing better,” coach Poss said. “It was almost
like the first few weeks were like a preseason, and now we’re finding our groove.”