Chargers stop most, not all, USJ shots

By RANDY CAVIN
Press Sports
Twenty-two saves by Makenzie Vincent were not enough for Westview against USJ in girls’ soccer action Tuesday at the Martin Recreation Complex
USJ took 27 shots on goal with five reaching inside the net as the Lady Chargers were defeated 5-0 by the two-time defending Division II state champions.
Westview head coach Matt Cupples said playing the Lady Bruins was a good test for his squad and he expects the Lady Chargers to learn from this game and be better when district play begins.
“It is really important that you play quality teams early in the season,” Cupples said. “To see where you are, to see what you have worked on in practice and to see if you have improved.”
Westview also played USJ Aug. 18 in a jamboree in Jackson, during which USJ outscored Westview 5-0 in one half of play.
“It was even more critical that we played them early in the jamboree and now we can see two weeks later how much we have improved,” Cupples said. “I can see a lot of positives. I think we played defensively pretty well. I think Makenzie was very strong in goal. She had some of the best saves I have seen in a long time. There are a lot of things we can build on.”
The Lady Bruins controlled the ball on their side of the field and kept the Lady Chargers from crossing midfield for most of the first half. When the Lady Chargers were able to get the ball across midfield, the Lady Bruins quickly took the ball away and got back on their side.
Of USJ’s 27 shots on goal, 17 came in the first half with three going into the net. The Lady Chargers did not get a shot on goal throughout the game.
Cupples gave a lot of credit to the Westview defense and to Vincent for keeping the Lady Bruins from scoring more than they did. Vincent played the entire game battling an illness.
“Makenzie was sick, and she had been sick,” the Westview skipper said. “She is a gamer and she came out here tonight and still played with a great effort. She is a positive senior, and that is leadership. I told them at halftime that you have got to play hard when you have seniors leading like that.”
Playing hard in the second half is what the Lady Chargers did on defense.
Cupples said it is the defense that is the strength of them and the offense still has work that needs to be done. Every time the Lady Chargers had an open pass the Lady Bruins and their defense were there to intercept the passes.
“I know we lost 5-0 against a very good team,” Cupples said. “Defensively, I feel very comfortable. We still have some areas to work on offensively. But we had the speed up top. We just have to get clicking on all cylinders.”
Westview is scheduled to play at Gibson County today, but that may change depending up the weather from the remnants of Hurricane Isaac and what it does to the rescheduling of football games. Published in The WCP 8.30.12

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