Latest 10 Entries
Below are the ten most recent blog items. Visit the blogsite for older entries and more viewing options.
November 10, 2009 - posted by MJD
A father's reflections
In place of the normal blog entry recording the details of tonight's game against Tuscarora HS, I would like to try to capture my feelings about watching my senior daughter's last high school game. I always knew this night would come, whether it was in the quarter finals last week or all the way until next weekend at UMBC. I wondered how I would feel, well now I know. It is a mixture of profound sadness for my daughter playing with her team mates for the last time mixed with an overwhelming amount of pride in the way the team has performed for these past four seasons. Although I knew the last game would come I guess I wasn't really ready and I struggle to think now, as I sit here with my wife, "What will we worry about now?" It is really funny thinking how wonderfully stressful it has been watching our children play together these past years. This is an amazing group of young women who have joined together to represent their school and play the beautiful game they love. Soccer is not just a game for them, but for some a way of life. Some will still play together on their club teams, some even together in college, one thing is certain their love of the game and our love of watching them play will never die.
Congratulations Quince Orchard Girl's Soccer: 2009 Division Champions and 3A West Finalists.
Well done ladies!
November 05, 2009 - posted by MJD
QO advances to 3A West regional final
Quince Orchard defeated Seneca Valley HS for the second time this season to advance to the Regional Final game on Tuesday. The final score was 2-0 on two very nice run of play goals in the second half. QO opened the game very dominant with good forward pressure and aggressive movement to goal. The Seneca Valley keeper made several key saves early denying scoring opportunities by both Shannon Dwyer and Sami Slonim. The half ended tied at 0-0.
The second half opened with QO on fire and scoring an early goal in the third minute of the second half. A Kayla Clarke throw in found the feet of Shannon Dwyer who turned and dribbled a few steps toward the goal and poked the ball past the sprawling SV keeper for the 1-0 lead. Fourteen minutes later QO scores again this time as Allie Solomon finds the back of the net after a super pass from Yvonne Latour to put the Cougars ahead for good 2-0.
Go Cougars!
November 03, 2009 - posted by MJD
QO wins Regional QF playoff game over Blake
In rematch of the Cougar's last home match, and in fact our last match of the regular season due to a rained out game versus Northwest High School, the girls again defeated Blake High School this time by the score of 8-1. This chilly early November evening saw a balanced QO attack and defense as usual, however, the Cougars seemed to be much more offensively minded this evening with plenty of quality possession and some of the best passing through the midfield and to the forwards I have seen all year. The back line continues to be nearly impenetrable and just a slight miscue lead to the Bengals only goal. The Cougars generated some incredible offense this evening with multiple shots from multiple players and multiple goals from multiple players as well. A recap of the evening's scoring:
First half-
5th minute of play, Shannon Dwyer with the assist from Kayla Clarke
8th minute of play, Leah Prentice from a Shannon Dwyer assist
24th minute Yvonne Latour corner kick with a volleyed goal from Kayla Clarke
3-0 at the end of the half.
Second half-
9th minute Shannon Dwyer with the assist from Leah Prentice
13th minute Kayla takes corner kick with a Blake OG
16th minute Yvonne Latour from Kayla Clarke
40th minute Kayla Clarke unassisted
40th minute Yvonne Latour on a Leah Prentice assist
Final score QO 8 Blake 1
The Regional semi final will be at the Cougar Dome on Thursday the 5th at 7p.
October 28, 2009 - posted by LLL
Maryland Playoff Details
Can be found here including the brackets.
October 22, 2009 - posted by MJD
Bengals fall to Cougars on Senior Night 5-0
The Cougars defeated the visiting Blake Bengals Wednesday night 5-0, a special Senior Night treat. The class of 2010 players were escorted out onto the field tonight by their families while announcer Mike Cuthbert read each player's "future plans for college and careers!" They were all very funny!
The game was one of the most beautiful games I have seen the girls play in quite a while. Blake, while clearly outmatched by their hosts, did not give up and gave their all against a superior team. The Cougars demonstrated beautiful passing and possession and were dominant from the opening whistle.
The Cougars opening goal came from a shot taken by Allie Solomon that the keeper blocked away only to have the rebound tucked away by Shannon Dwyer for the goal.
The second goal could be one of my favorite goals I have seen the team make this year. Kayla Clarke delivered a beautiful cross from the right side that gracefully arced across the goal mouth and the onrushing Shannon Dwyer deftly one-touched past the sprawling Blake keeper. 2-0 Cougars.
The Cougar's third goal came as Clarke again delivered a great ball up the right side to a running Kelsey O'Conner who dragged a cross on the ground in front of the Blake keeper and onto the foot of Leah Prentice who also one-touched the ball into the back of the net, 3-0.
In the second half the scoring continued when Shannon Dwyer crossed the ball to Leah Prentice, who scored her second goal of the game from a close range shot.
Leah completed her hat trick when she received the ball yet again from Dwyer, and she settled the ball and blasted a left footed long range shot into the upper corner of the Blake goal. A great shot that had to be seen to truly appreciate! Beautiful!
Well done girls a great cap off to a wonderful senior night celebration.
The Cougar's next game is away at Northwest High School Tuesday night at 7:00.
Go Cougars!
October 19, 2009 - posted by MJD
Cougars defeat Patriots 2-0
In what was billed to be the hardest of the remaining regular season games, the Cougars took Wootton close to the end of the game scoreless and then scored twice within 8 minutes to seal the victory 2-0. The two teams were very evenly matched and play was well distributed between them. The midfields dominated play on both teams with strong performances from both defenses as well. But in the end it was the offense of QO who prevailed. QO's first tally came from a strong move up the center of the field by Emily D'Italia. Em slotted the ball to Kayla Clarke and Kayla buried the ball into the back of the Patriot's net. Eight minutes later, Allie Solomon and Sami Slonim combined to score the Cougar's second goal of the evening. Allie passed the ball into the 6 yard box and after a few pinball bounces, Sami Slonim shot the ball past the Patriot keeper for the insurance goal.
I overhead Coach Keiller in a post-game interview make some great quotes, which I will share with you. "A gutsy performance." "We were able to correct some things we have been working on." And finally, regarding playing without injured forward Ele Margelos, "It was tough playing without Ele, first time in 4 years we've had to do that."
QO's next game is Wednesday night at home 7pm against Blake High School. It is QO Senior night.
COUGARS!
October 19, 2009 - posted by LLL
New Photos: Einstein, SV, Damascus
More great photos of our Cougars in action!
October 13, 2009 - posted by MJD
Cougars defeat Titans 4-0
Quince Orchard defeated Einstein tonight by the score of 4-0. The first Cougar goal came in the 7th minute when Shannon Dwyer threw the ball in to Emily D'Italia who slid a great pass through the Titan defense to the feet of Leah Prentice who sent her left footed shot past the sprawling Einstein keeper. Goal number 2 came in the 30th minute when Allie Solomin fed Sami Slonim who slotted the ball across the goal mouth and into the net just inside the far post. The score at the half was 2-0. The second half opened with Leah Prentice feeding the ball to Yvonne Latour who shoots and scores the first of her two goals. Latour's second goal came from a pass from Shannon Dwyer. Yvonne dribbled past the Titan defense and scored in the 14th minute. The entire squad received some quality play time allowing coach Keiller to rest some players and give some extra recuperation time to some injured players. The goal keeper duo of Gabby Paolini and Kelsey O'Conner (celebrating her 16th birthday!) combined to give the Cougar's their 6th consecutive shutout. In the Cougar's last 6 games we have out scored our opponents 28-0. Well done ladies!
The Cougar's next game is Monday night the 19th at 7 p.m. home in the Cougar Dome.
October 07, 2009 - posted by MJD
QO clinches Division title with 2-0 win over Damascus.
The Cougars waited until late in the game to score their first goal. In the 27th minute of the 2nd half Emily D'Italia sent a nicely weighted pass through to Sami Slonim who took a few touches and calmly put the ball past the Damascus keeper to put the Cougars up 1-0. Eleven minutes later in the 38th minute Yvonne Latour sent a ball through to Leah Prentice who put the Cougars comfortably in front 2-0.
The Cougars played their normal game, a little slow and groggy in the first half, but came alive in the second half to totally dominate the Hornets and control the game.
The victory clinced the Divisional Championship for the Cougars.
The Cougars next game is Tuesday the 13th, 7pm, away at Einstein HS.
October 06, 2009 - posted by LLL
New photos just posted
Once again, Ele's aunt Becky has provided the team many great photos of the BCC, Clarksburg, Poolesville, and WM games. You can view them under "Photos" in the online viewer or by going to my picasa album by pushing "George's" button. There are over 200...
Thank you Becky!!
