Lady Blazers punish Knights

The Blair varsity girls' soccer team defeated the Wheaton Knights 6-0 in their season opener. The Blazers maintained a strong defense throughout the game and dominated in the midfield to come out on top.

Blair began the game right with three quick goals. Sophomore Annie Worden started the scoring, putting in a cross from freshman Darcy Pelz-Butler. Two minutes later, defender Becca Vogel dribbled around two defenders and buried the ball low in the left corner. Pelz-Butler connected with Worden again for another goal before the game settled down. Blair wasn't done scoring though, as the half ended with one more score from freshman Imani Pierre. Pierre drove the ball into the back of the net off a dead-ball free kick from just outside the 18 yard box.

The second half saw sloppier play from the Blazers as they continually passed the ball into the center rather than attacking down the flanks. "We were just trying to cram the ball down the middle," said Coach Bob Gibb. Offsides calls also plagued the team who, according to Gibb, was probably offsides more times in this game than in the whole previous season.

Finally, after 30 minutes of missed opportunities and incomplete passes, co-captain Danielle Peck received a pass at the top of the goal box and sent the ball sailing over the goalie's arms. Shortly afterwards, Worden would seal her hat trick when she intercepted a goal kick and dribbled up to the goalie and tapped the ball into the corner of the net.

The Blazers came off the field excited with their win, but ready to work hard for their next game. "We played a decent first half," said co-captain Devon Madison, "but the second half could have been better." Gibb agreed that there is room for improvement. "We were a little rusty," he said, adding that the team did not play their style. But, he expressed confidence that by Friday the Blazers would be ready to take on Churchill.

The varsity girls' soccer team plays its next match on Friday Sept. 15 at Churchill at 7 p.m.