2006 Girls Varsity Soccer

     Choate is a worthy opponent. They are strong every year and this is the game where we find out our weaknesses.
     The girls rose to the occasion against Choate with a synergy that is ahead of schedule. Speed, movement off the ball and awareness of the field and teammates were all highlights of Saturday's contest. I am particularly encouraged by the courage and toughness that this year's group exhibited. -- Submitted by Coach Coder

Exeter played with energy, but lacked cohesion in the game against Deerfield on Saturday. Although Deerfield was a little better than in recent years, we didn't play to our capabilities. Reaching for those capabilities will be the goal as we head into another tough week - Holderness on Wednesday then GDA under the lights Saturday night. Of note: Kirstin Vaughan, sister of Exeter alum, Lindsey Vaughan, scored for Deerfield Saturday, with 20 minutes to play in the game. --Submitted by Coach Coder

     This team is facing challenges left and right, making for a really interesting year.  I compare them to mood rings in that the team looks and plays differently each outing. The Holderness game was no different. With 60% of the team playing unfamiliar but necessary positions, we came out looking fairly comfortable. Though the battle was a bit more in Exeter's favor, it was 0-0 at the half.
     The second half showed another notch up, but the keeper made a few really good saves and kept things even until the 34-minute mark. At that point, an indirect was called in the box with Holderness choosing to line every player up in the goal mouth. Exeter responded with a blast by Sophie Robinson, assisted by Izabel Newlin to put Exeter up 1-0.
-- Submitted by Coach Coder

          In a very uncharacteristically slow start to the season, Girls Varsity Soccer dropped their third game by losing to Governor's Academy 1-0. Devan Council was terrific in goal, with seven saves. Three of those saves drew gasps of awe from even the referees. About 25 minutes into the game, the group from Byfield scored on a corner kick in, resulting in one of those classic flurries of bodies and feet in the goalmouth and a finish by GA.
     Kendrick Campbell, Sue Truelove, Sophie Robinson and Anna Nikolich also deserve praise for their adjustment to new territory as well as for the intensity they brought to the game.
     The knowledge that Exeter kids don't ever go down without a fight is keeping chins up and the focus on taking steps forward every chance that is given. This week will bring on Bates JV in Lewiston followed by Milton in Exeter on Saturday, 10/7.
-- Submitted by Coach Coder

     This trip was highlighted as much by the needed win as it was by the visit of alum Noah Glick '06, who was a one-man cheering squad for Exeter. Brie Hatton opened the scoring with a finish off a great leading pass from Sue Truelove. The next two goals, just twenty seconds apart, were both scored by Ashley Farnsworth, unassisted. Meredith Roy had her first goal of the season, followed by Sophie Robinson, Emma Broderick and Brie Hatton, again.
     We now head into the weekend to face Milton for the first time in many years on 10/7. They are playing extremely well and we'll need to put it all together to come away with the win. Game time is 2:00.               -- Submitted by Coach Coder

     As corny as this sounds, we finally got to see the butterfly emerging from the cocoon this weekend. The girls knew that Milton had put together a really strong early season run and were aware that they must play better than they have been to be in this game.
     What unfolded in the first half of the game was the best 40 minutes of soccer Exeter has played all season. The trademark toughness of an Exeter team was there, allowing Exeter to earn the better part of the 0-0 first half.
     The second half was much of the same when Caroline Downer, returning from a five game absence, drove a ball from a restart into the top half of the net. Ten minutes later, Milton capitalized on a miss-hit ball in the box to tie it up. Though proud of the effort, the girls knew that a win was within grasp.
     The progress this team is making is fast and furious and encouraging! The defense, adjusting once again to a new alignment, was better than solid. Downer, Ashley Farnsworth, Alexa Ellis, Alyssa Mackey, Meredith Roy and Julia Panopoulos made for a very strong midfield showing this week.
      -- Submitted by Coach Coder.

     For the first time since September 13, all three captains were on the field. Sophie Robinson celebrated her return with three goals in only 12 minutes of play. Devan Council earned the first half shut out (Lily White the second half) and Caroline Downer cruised the midfield, serving up balls and finishing on one goal of her own (assisted by Julia Panopoulos.)
      The team as a whole is finding its identity with the defense gelling, team shape becoming more consistent and the forwards gaining the confidence to be more creative.
     The final goal was scored by Kendrick Campbell on a beautiful run down the touchline. -- Submitted by Coach Coder

Exeter Varsity Soccer once again had a shift in the defensive alignment due to injury. There has not yet been a two game stretch where the defense could settle in and get to know each other's tendencies. Despite that challenge, the offense was able to provide a strong buffer for mistakes. 
Three goals were scored by Sophie Robinson. The first one was off a perfectly placed ball from Caroline Downer.  The second two were classic Sophie: beat whoever is in the way and then beat the keeper. In the second half, Ashley Farnsworth received a pass from Meredith Roy and wasted no time blasting the ball into the net from 20 feet out. Iz Newlin used a hesitation dribble to beat a defender and then, she too, blasted a ball at an angle from 20 feet out. The midfield was strong and tough with Jenny Kaagan having a break-through game on outer mid.
This Wednesday Exeter travels to KUA to play on their new turf field followed by Brewster at home this Saturday 10/21 at 2:30 PM.  The game Saturday will be played on the far fields.
--Submitted by Coach Coder

     While every other team played Deerfield this weekend, Girls Soccer played Brewster. As usual, Brewster was well-coached and played tough. So tough that they found the back of the net first on a scramble out front. Down 1-0, the Exeter girls responded without panic. They stayed with their style of play and cleaned up the edges. Midawy through the first half, Isabel Newlin drew a crowd in front of the net and calmly touched the ball back to a wide-open Caroline Downer. One cut of the ball to find the opening and Caroline let loose a rocket that found the back of the net. Halftime came with the score tied but the girls feeling like the game was about to open up.  
     That gut feeling was prophetic. Two minutes into the second half, Caroline fed Sophie Robinson a through ball and Sophie tapped the ball past the keeper. Only three minutes later, Julia Panopolous put her head down and barreled past three Brewster girls to earn a blistering shot for a goal.The final goal was Downer from Panopolous with only fifteen seconds left to play.
     Defensively, it was great to see Sue Trulove and Anna Nikolich side by side once again. They both played extremely well with support from Catherine Diao, Kendrick Campbell and Isys Johnson. Devan Council was in goal for the first half while Lily White kept the ball off the line in the second half. --Submitted by Coach Coder

     Sophie Robinson (twice), Meredith Roy (twice) and Caroline Downer all found the back of the net today in a 5-1 win over St. Paul's. The first goal came just seconds into the game when Sue Truelove popped a ball over the flat backs of St. Paul's defense. Their offside trap got a number of calls but also set up lots of chances for us to play the ball through and create 1v1 situations. On this really windy day, keeping the ball on the turf was just what needed to happen.
      Melissa Lee and Alyssa Mackey had a number of smart serves. Julia Panopolous and Ashley Farnsworth both played extremely tough and active. 
      We look forward to Saturday when we'll have the chance to see if we can respond to a strong Tabor team. Last year we played Tabor in the snow...this year looks just a few degrees off that!
--Submitted by Coach Coder

     The schedule took us to Cambridge, MA to face Harvard's JV. We had the good fortune of being transferred from our usual recreation field spot to Ohiri Field, Harvard's main soccer venue. Alum Jan Ng '04 was her usual multi-tasking self, doing her running workout around the field as we played!
     Harvard proved to be a nice match. They provided pressure, size and strength for Exeter to work through. And work through they did, despite the absence of key midfielders Caroline Downer and Ashley Farnsworth. Sophie Robinson was taken down by the keeper on a breakaway midway through the first half. The awarded penalty kick placed cleanly in the net.
     Harvard had five good shots in the first half, testing Devan Council who, again, rose to the occasion - horizontal saves, smothering of breakaways, deflections of high balls, you name it. Sophie and Devan were joined in a well-played game by virtually every member of the team. Every single athlete is exhibiting growth, improvement and confidence.
     In the second half, we had a number of good chances with Kate Broderick shooting a ball that squiggled away from the keeper for Sophie Robinson to finish. That brings Sophie's goal total to 21 this season, just one off the school record for a single season.
-- Submitted by Coach Coder
 

     At one point of this season, the Girls Varsity Soccer Team had to take responsibility for a record of 2-3-1. Pride, work, support for each other and the successful history that previous Exeter teams had earned all played a part in a remarkable turn of fortune. With a truly earned win over Cushing this weekend, Exeter Girls Varsity Soccer can be proud of the current 11-3-1 record.
     Playing on Cushing's small field, Exeter knew that the game would be much different than Wedensday's wide-open, fluid style against Harvard.  Prepared to be patient and prepared to accept Cushing's aggressive style of play, the girls played tough all over the field. Cushing found the back of the net first, 20 minutes into the first half. Only minutes later, Alexa Ellis took the opponents on and dug a ball out of the corner beating three Cushing defenders. She found Sophie Robinson who, despite being individually marked, floated a ball over her own head dropping it into the net for the tie. This also tied the single season scoring record for an Exeter player at 22 goals.
     The second half began with a quick Cushing flurry, with Exeter responding well to every challenge. Sue Truelove, Anna Nikolich, Catherine Diao and Kendrick Campbell were solid and compact for Devan Council in goal. About midway through the second half there was a momentum change. Exeter's patience began to pay off and the chances at goal began to build. Alyssa Mackey and Alexa Ellis, Meredith Roy and Julia Panopolous covered the midfield impressively. With ten minutes to play, Megan Hawes read the defenders perfectly with a throw in over Sophie's should that allowed Sophie to seal off the defender and move to goal unimpeded. Sophie beat the keeper to the far corner with a perfectly placed shot. A New School Record for Sophie and a critical win for the team.  
     Megan Hawes has been particularly valuable to the team with her willingness to play any position. With the injuries that we have had to weather this season, her contribution to the team can't be overstated. She has played every single position save goal. Though contributions by every player can be noted, I wanted to give Megan the credit that is due!
     Wednesday will see New Hampton traveling to Exeter when we hope to see the return of Ashley Farnsworth and Caroline Downer. –Submitted by Coach Coder