Delmarvanow.com

11/2/11

Clippers fall (to Vikings) in 3A quarterfinals

SALISBURY -- The James M. Bennett girls soccer team began quarterfinal play in the MPSSAA 3A East tournament at home Tuesday against Mount Hebron.

The home-field advantage did not work in their favor, though, as the Clippers fell to the Vikings, 3-0.

"We knew they were skilled, physical and fit and we kind of hoped they would be tired coming off the bus," said Clippers coach Ed O'Leary. "The first 10 minutes we did really well, then after that, they overpowered us. I have to give them all the credit in the world, because they are a good team."

Bennett (6-6-1) came out of the gate fast as they attempted to get the early advantage on Mount Hebron with a shot on goal, only to have it hit the crossbar. After that, the tide turned in the favor of the Vikings (8-5-1).

It was midway through the first half when the officials called a handball penalty, eventually leading to a penalty shot that Mount Hebron's Kelsi Folch capitalized on to give her team the lead. The Vikings added another goal in the final five minutes of the half as Susie Halper sunk a shot in the lower right-hand corner just out of the reach of Clippers goalie Kylie Vogelsang.

Mount Hebron coach Tim Deppen said with little knowledge of his opponent, he had one objective for his team.

"The word we've used for the past two or three weeks with the team is 'focus,' " he said. "We've tried to get the girls to focus in practice, to focus on what they want to achieve on the field and be able to go out there and just earn it. The first goal, scoring on a PK off of a handball in the box, that in my opinion, was not really earning it. So the fact we put two more in the net makes me feel like we did earn this win."

The Clippers came out in the second half and played well, holding the Vikings scoreless until late in the second half as Lindsey Kyser added a goal to conclude the scoring.

O'Leary said while he will lose five seniors from this year's roster, his goal will be to build his team into a consistent contender.

"We want to improve more in the offseason and we want more commitment," he said. "Hopefully we can get more commitment next year and we can restore Bennett to the Bennett of a decade ago."

Written by

Earl Holland

Staff Writer, Delmarvanow.com