October 24, 2007

 

     Lookout Mountain, TN—The Bryan College Lady Lions’ Soccer team traveled down the road and up the mountain to visit rival Covenant College for the quarterfinal round of the Appalachian Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday. The host Lady Scots, seeded second in the tournament, defeated the Lions 3-0 earlier in the year, and were looking to advance to the semi-final round this weekend in Chattanooga.

     The game was played under horrendous conditions as a very heavy fog settled on top of the mountain and visibility was almost non existent. At one point the fans watching the game could not see the players on the field, however the referees determined that the game could be played, and the two teams fought hard to stave off elimination and advance to the next round.

     The Lions came out looking focused and turned away the attacking Covenant forwards throughout the entire first half. As play continued a steady rain accompanied the fog, creating even more hazardous conditions, but the weather did not seem to affect the focus of the players on the field. Bryan goalkeeper Kara Nissley made three saves on twelve shots, and defenders Christy Noel, Jana Watson and Shelby Robinson kept the Lady Scots at bay, turning attempts away with ease.   In the 42nd minute, a ball was played forward by the Scots and Nissley was caught in “no man’s land” as she came out to make a save near the 18. Just before the Lions keeper could get to the ball, a Scots attacker chipped the ball over her head and the ball tucked just inside the far post. Covenant 1, Bryan 0.

     The Lady Lions began to play some of their best soccer of the year from that point on and the two teams played evenly. The score at the half remained Covenant 1, Bryan 0.

     The fog cleared at half time and it appeared as though the conditions would be much improved during the second half, but as soon as the players stepped back onto the pitch for the kick-off the fog settled in once again, and the rain came with it. Bryan played with a sense of urgency, and began to posses the ball in the Scots’ end of the field for much of the second half. It was a back and forth game as both teams put pressure on each other and both had multiple scoring chances which they were unable to capitalize on.

      It appeared as though Bryan would even the score deep into the second half when a corner kick was settled in the box, but the Covenant defense remained strong and cleared the ball before Bryan could find the net. The Lady Lions continued to press forward hoping for the game tying goal, but could not find the equalizer. As the clock wound down, the Lady Scots cleared the ball long and the buzzer sounded. Final Score: Covenant 1, Bryan 0.

     Bryan Head Coach Mark Sauve was pleased with his team’s effort, and felt that they played well enough to win. The Lady Lions came into the game with a David versus Goliath mentality, hoping to upset the second ranked Lady Scots and knock them out of the tournament, but fell just short. The girls were disappointed, but knew that they’d left everything on the field, playing as hard as they could. There was a sense of accomplishment from the young players who are the future of Bryan College Women’s Soccer, and based on how they finished this season, that future looks bright.