Sports > Schools
Halfway home: Lady Eagles on track for playoff return
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
Whether it was playing Flower Mound or Flower Mound Marcus the past two seasons in District 8-5A or Plano West this year in 10-5A, the Allen girls soccer team (2-1-2, 6 points) is no stranger to nationally-ranked district opponents.
And now, the Lady Eagles are starting to push back against the nation's best.
Allen picked up perhaps its most difficult point of the season Feb. 19 thanks to a 2-2 draw with McKinney Boyd, which entered the match ranked No. 11 in the country by Elite Soccer Report.
"A great response against a strong opponent," said Kevin Albury, Allen head coach.
Boyd scored 13 minutes in and held a 2-0 lead midway through the second half.
"With 20 minutes to go it seemed to click for us," Albury said.
Allen got on the board off a set piece as senior Allie Johnson crossed off a throw in and found sophomore Morgan Cherry, who attacked the far post with a header for a goal.
"Boyd was now under pressure and getting uncomfortable," Albury said. "We attacked more often and came close."
The Lady Eagles notched the equalizer with six minutes remaining when Cherry crossed to Kaylee Davis. The freshman allowed the ball through and fired into the Upper 90 for a 2-2 score. That would be the final as well after last-minute attempts via junior Chloe Fowler and a corner were turned away.
Fowler would not be deterred Friday.
Facing a McKinney squad that was level with No. 2 West until the final 30 seconds just days earlier, Allen forced the Lionettes into a second straight 1-0 defeat when Fowler scored in the 68th minute. Cherry and Davis got the goal going with the former passing to the latter and Davis' shot blocked. The rebound made its way to Fowler, who hit the underside of the crossbar and saw the ball drop on the line. The linesman ruled it was a goal.
"That was the piece of luck that we needed," Albury said.
Offense was hard to come by much of the night as rain had caused a slick surface at Ford Middle School and multiple players were out due to a club tournament over the weekend.
"Defensively, we were covering each other and their attacks well," Albury said.
That's not to say it was a night off for the goalies as Allen senior keeper Nicole Limpert was called upon to stop several long-range shots in the first half while sophomore Callie Anderson shut down attempts in the second, including a diving save in the final 15 minutes.
McKinney increased the pressure after falling behind, leading to a counterattack in which Allen sophomore Emily Niece hit the bar.
Though there was no more scoring, the back-and-forth pace continued to the buzzer.
"Our noisy fans made it a great atmosphere and the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other," Albury said. "We played the last few minutes defensively and held on for another shutout and two crucial points."
The shutout was Allen's 11 of the season and fifth in its last seven games. That streak wasn't extended Tuesday though as the squad settled for a 1-1 draw with Plano Senior.
The Lady Eagles (10-4-3 overall) haven't made the playoffs since 2009-10, but at the midway point of district that appears destined to change as the team is third in 10-5A and holds a four-point lead over Plano for the final postseason spot with just five matches remaining.
Allen returns to the pitch for the second half of district at 7:30 p.m. Friday, traveling to Clark East to face the Lady Panthers.
And now, the Lady Eagles are starting to push back against the nation's best.
Allen picked up perhaps its most difficult point of the season Feb. 19 thanks to a 2-2 draw with McKinney Boyd, which entered the match ranked No. 11 in the country by Elite Soccer Report.
"A great response against a strong opponent," said Kevin Albury, Allen head coach.
Boyd scored 13 minutes in and held a 2-0 lead midway through the second half.
"With 20 minutes to go it seemed to click for us," Albury said.
Allen got on the board off a set piece as senior Allie Johnson crossed off a throw in and found sophomore Morgan Cherry, who attacked the far post with a header for a goal.
"Boyd was now under pressure and getting uncomfortable," Albury said. "We attacked more often and came close."
The Lady Eagles notched the equalizer with six minutes remaining when Cherry crossed to Kaylee Davis. The freshman allowed the ball through and fired into the Upper 90 for a 2-2 score. That would be the final as well after last-minute attempts via junior Chloe Fowler and a corner were turned away.
Fowler would not be deterred Friday.
Facing a McKinney squad that was level with No. 2 West until the final 30 seconds just days earlier, Allen forced the Lionettes into a second straight 1-0 defeat when Fowler scored in the 68th minute. Cherry and Davis got the goal going with the former passing to the latter and Davis' shot blocked. The rebound made its way to Fowler, who hit the underside of the crossbar and saw the ball drop on the line. The linesman ruled it was a goal.
"That was the piece of luck that we needed," Albury said.
Offense was hard to come by much of the night as rain had caused a slick surface at Ford Middle School and multiple players were out due to a club tournament over the weekend.
"Defensively, we were covering each other and their attacks well," Albury said.
That's not to say it was a night off for the goalies as Allen senior keeper Nicole Limpert was called upon to stop several long-range shots in the first half while sophomore Callie Anderson shut down attempts in the second, including a diving save in the final 15 minutes.
McKinney increased the pressure after falling behind, leading to a counterattack in which Allen sophomore Emily Niece hit the bar.
Though there was no more scoring, the back-and-forth pace continued to the buzzer.
"Our noisy fans made it a great atmosphere and the game ebbed and flowed from one end to the other," Albury said. "We played the last few minutes defensively and held on for another shutout and two crucial points."
The shutout was Allen's 11 of the season and fifth in its last seven games. That streak wasn't extended Tuesday though as the squad settled for a 1-1 draw with Plano Senior.
The Lady Eagles (10-4-3 overall) haven't made the playoffs since 2009-10, but at the midway point of district that appears destined to change as the team is third in 10-5A and holds a four-point lead over Plano for the final postseason spot with just five matches remaining.
Allen returns to the pitch for the second half of district at 7:30 p.m. Friday, traveling to Clark East to face the Lady Panthers.
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