2007 Girls Varsity Soccer

Exeter knew that Governor's Academy would be a test and it turned out that a five minute lapse in focus cost the game. Exeter maintained possession for the majority of the first half with a couple of strong chances, but at the 35 minute mark, there was an injury time-out which changed the momentum drastically. Governor's Academy came off that break with a 35 yard floater and a subsequent flurry in front of the net resulting in an own goal.

Exeter couldn't recover despite carrying the second half's momentum for the majority of play. Facing a scoring drought, Exeter will continue to focus on improving, working through this tough spot as a team, and taking each game as a chance to show the results of that effort. Next up: Exeter will travel to Milton Academy on Saturday, October 6th.
Submitted by Coach Coder

Girls Varsity Soccer collided with Milton Academy on Milton's field this weekend. And Exeter earned a much needed win with a 3-1 score. On paper these two teams looked strangely similar and the real-life meeting didn't change that perception. Strong passing and individual skills, solid defense and an offense that is just developing created a ton of back and forth play.

Milton got onto the board first with, to be honest, a lack of defensive pressure from Exeter. The response was terrific with a renewed intensity toward the Milton goal. Jenny Kaagan, playing midfield for the first time this season, created pressure with a strong shot that was bobbled in the goal mouth. Cleo Hirsch was there to finish. Just minutes later, Julia Panopoulos cracked a ball from the flank that bulged the far, upper corner of the net for the second goal. With just five minutes to go in the half, Ashley Farnsworth finished a ball from Cleo creating a tough two goal-deficit for Milton. Though the second half had opportunities for both teams, Exeter played its best game of the season from start to finish finally putting all the disparate pieces together. Exeter travels to Pingree on Wednesday.
Submitted by Coach Coder

The Pingree School hosted Exeter on Wednesday with the small field dictating the style of play. Exeter came out quickly with pressure almost immediately. Pingree's speed in the back kept the shots to a minimum through that first storm. But Kendrick Campbell soon found Isabel Newlin in front of the net. Isabel struck the ball with power at just seven minutes into the game. Pingree continued to battle and found the half time score to be 1-0.

The second half was better for Exeter with the second goal coming from Cleo Hirsch, assisted by a Julia Panopoulos cross at 25:40. Isabel Newlin blasted another shot past the goalie with just five minutes left to play. Exeter's defense continues to be solid and reliable with Katrina Coogan, Kat Burton, Sue Truelove and Kendrick Campbell delaying attacks and preventing shots.  Lily White had 12 saves earning another shut out. Exeter welcomes NMH on Saturday at 2:00.
Submitted by Coach Coder

The history of Girls Soccer at Exeter is wide and deep. Even with that backdrop, the game versus NMH on Saturday may crack the top ten memorable list. The game began with Exeter grabbing momentum and possession time but with intensity coming and going. As a result, the halftime score was zero-zero allowing NMH's confidence to soar with each passing minute.

The second half was more of the same with Exeter putting the ball on net more frequently but NMH holding tough. With about twenty minutes to go in the game, an NMH defender took down a charging Ashley Farnsworth in the box. Exeter missed the penalty kick creating a true mental challenge. The response was terrific with each athlete playing with more urgency. With virtually seconds to play in the game, Cleo Hirsch received a through ball from Sue Truelove, took one defender on, then slipped a slow roller under the keeper's armpit for as crazy a finish as imaginable. Exeter goes to work this week in preparation for Kimball Union on Wednesday and Brewster on Saturday.
Submitted by Coach Coder

Coming off Saturday's skin-off-the-teeth win, Exeter was determined to control their own destiny more decisively. That goal was accomplished with direct, composed play throughout the game. The first goal of the day began with an Isabel Newlin pass to Cleo Hirsch who released the ball quickly, beating the keeper low and left. Just a few minutes later, Isabel found another target in Brie Hatton who timed a run to the box perfectly for a decisive finish.

Arriving at half-time with the score just 2-0, Exeter knew that the next goal was important. Prep, Lauren Gormer took advantage of space she created to serve a ball to the far post finding Katie Broderick's head.The result was a beauty of a third goal. The final score came just minutes before the final whistle when Isabel touched a ball back to defender Sue Truelove who released at about 35 yards. This was a driven ball into the top corner of the goal with no chance  for the keeper to respond. Exeter will take a foliage trip to Wolfeboro to play Brewster Academy on Saturday.
Submitted by Coach Coder

Disappointment was the over-riding emotion as Exeter walked away from the Brewster Academy field on Saturday with a 1-2 loss. Exeter scored first with a beauty of a ball from Lauren Gormer. The ball ricocheted off the left post all the way to the net on the right corner of the goal. The play throughout the day was very physical as it always is with Brewster, but Exeter responded with toughness, too.

The second half was pretty even with each team earning chances. Lily White made a spectacular reaction save when a ball was drilled above her head to keep the score 1-0. Then Brewster found the net with a cross from the corner and a good finish to tie things up. It looked like the game would reach overtime untl the Brewster forward slipped through two Exeter defenders for a one-on-one with the keeper. With literally 30 seconds left on the clock, Brewster pushed the ball into the net. With six games left on the docket, Exeter will reload and come after St Paul's on Wednesday.
Submitted by Coach Coder

Soccer is a crazy sport. Sometimes a team can make terrific progress and walk away from a field with a loss. The second half of the game versus Tabor was nothing short of gutsy and tough and despite the loss there was pride because the Exeter team found a competitive fire that has been missing this season.
 
Tabor scored early with two goals that Exeter takes full responsibility for. Ashley Farnsworth then barreled through a bouncing ball to challenge the keeper knocking the ball in the goal while both girls lay sprawled on the turf. That, it turns out, was the end of the goal scoring. Though chance after chance was produced in a very challenging atmosphere both on and off the field, Exeter was just millimeters from finishing each of the twelve chances in the final 40 minutes. Posts were hit, bounces went the wrong way and the athletic trainer was kept busy icing black and blue, Halloween costume-like eggs on foreheads. Ashley Farnsworth, Alexa Ellis, Isabel Newlin and Cleo Hirsch solidified as a midfield-forward force responding to the physical play of Tabor by pushing the ball forward, challenging for balls and responding to the pressure.
 
Given the choice, I'd take the Exeter team that we are becoming any day of the week. We are continuing to get better and, despite the loss this weekend, we are playing the best soccer of the season as the final weeks unfold.
Submitted by Coach Coder