CRHS Girls Win Big at Portland

The CRHS Lady Devil’s soccer team enjoyed an outpouring of support on the road in Portland Thursday night. Not only because they were facing a conference rival, but because the game had a 6PM start time allowing working parents the chance to watch their daughter’s compete. The unfortunate casualty of not having a lighted field at CRHS makes games like these extra special. When the team puts on thrilling performance like the girls did last night, it makes it that much more extraordinary.

The first half was a see-saw battle between the Portland Midfield and the CRHS defenders. Coginchaug struggled early on to get the ball up top and the Portland Mids held the ball in their offensive half. They applied all the pressure they could muster. Goal Keeper Kara Mather and the entire defensive unit of CRHS denied them every time.

Coginchaug was not completely void of an attack of their own and late in the period, Senior Kim Romanoff took the ball down the right side of field, just ahead of Portland’s defense. She ripped a shot on goal. The keeper made a diving stop but could not pick the ball cleanly. Alertly following the play, Junior Midfielder Jen Crandall popped it in to break the deadlock.

The second half was a different story as both teams elevated their level of play to their highest potential. Portland kept attacking, and kept firing with skilled play from outside and center midfield. The defense stepped up, and Mather made huge saves for CRHS. Sophomore Midfielder Jess Drop and the Coginchaug offense peppered the Portland goal with shots. Eight minutes into the half CRHS put together a play that would make any chalk-talking coach proud. Co-Captain Defender Kasi Whitaker took a long ball first touch and made it count when she found Freshman Olivia Preneta wide. Preneta beat her marker as if she’d been a 4th year player, not one in her 4th career game. She sent the ball through to Drop. Jess again used a deadly touch forward beating her defender. Another to open herself up and set up her right foot. The combination was so perfect it would have been a shame if it didn’t result in a goal. Jess didn’t disappoint. From the 18 she fired a laser. Far post. Upper 90. No chance for anyone to stop it. Epic.

A lesser team would have been deflated after that, but to Portland’s credit they hung in. They continued to press. Their efforts paid off. Coginchaug was riding a 3 ½ game streak of not conceding a goal, but Portland snapped that stretch just a few minutes later. Portland’s #24 placed a shot just under the crossbar to keep the game within reach.

Both teams played hard and fast for the remainder of the half. CRHS held tightly to the slim lead and rode out the clock for the victory.

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