2009 (16U) Girls State Premiership 1 Recap

Palatine Celtic SC visited Pegasus in the State Premiership Game of the Week, and it did not disappoint. The two teams have faced each other multiple times and yet each game has been different. There was not a clear favorite entering the match but there was a defending Champion playing the runner-up a there was no question that this game would be an intense one. It was clear that these two teams respect each other and will still fight for the win. Palatine Celtic managed to go home with the three points leaving them with six points out of six to begin the Premiership.

As the game began, it quickly looked like Celtic were going to open up the scoring, as it took three minutes for them to combine well in the box and get a shot on target. Safe hands for Pegasus’ Goalkeeper kept things 0-0. It did not take long for Pegasus to respond and start to look a lot more comfortable on the ball. A team that wants to possess and wants to pass the ball around the opposition was evident, and it was working. Abby Samson commanded the midfield for Pegasus and was a big reason why the team could control the midfield. She and Olivia Levin of Pegasus would combine well and combine often, leading to them looking like the most likely candidates to score first. Celtic has a great backline that simply was unbeatable, and with all the possession and good movement of the ball, Pegasus could not find a way to get the ball into the back of the net. With five minutes left in the first half, Emily Sondergaard of Palatine Celtic would show great physicality down the left flank, as she showed off electric speed and great strength to hold off three defenders and lay the ball off for Kara Rubens to get the goal. It was 1-0 Palatine Celtic.

Pegasus would continue to move the ball well and effectively in the early in the second half, but Palatine was not sitting back and was not comfortable with just the 1-0, they wanted more and within 10′ of the first half, they would slot home the second. Emily again, showed brilliancy, as she noticed the space that Asya Poyraz of Palatine Celtic was running into and played a quick throw in, into space, where Asya then had to only beat her defender and go 1v1 with the keeper. With great composure, Asya would make it two nil! This would take the wind out of any team, Pegasus looked like the better side at that moment however, Palatine had other plans. With the game 2-0, Pegasus would continue to move the ball well and possess but Palatine would look most dangerous. In the closing minutes of the game, it looked like Emily would get her goal next. She received the ball in the midfield where she showed brilliant skill to get past five defenders and go alone with the keeper, where her shot went slightly over the crossbar. Surely, this would have been one of the goals of the seasons. She would not get her goal, but she was a big part in taking home the three points for the Palatine side.

The game could have gone either way. Pegasus showed why they are the reigning Presidents Cup and Premiership Champions and Palatine Celtic showed why they were, and are contenders for the ultimate prize.

Up next for Pegasus is a visit to Crystal Lake to face off against CL Force while Palatine Celtic will host Lagrange Celtics.