Azzuri News Article

4.26.09 Azzuri Find Their Spirit; Beat MVLA 2-0

Ending a long weekend of soccer, the Ladies in Blue put up a solid effort to down the MVLA Spirit at Hillview Field, 2-0, and moved to 4-0 in Spring D2 League play.

After two days of less than ideal playing weather, Azzuri found themselves in the warm sunshine against a worthy opponent...Coming into the action, Azzuri were 4-3-2 "lifetime" against the MVLA "Franchise" (Dynamite, Blizzard and Spirit) and had played particularly well against the Spirit (3-0-1), but had never have won a game at Hillview Field (0-1-1).

The game started with much back and forth and the two squads ended the first half even, 0-0. Spirit outshot the Azzuri 7-5 in the first half, but 6 saves by Lauren kept the tilt even.

The second half saw the Azzuri summon up whatever energy they had left in the last 30 minutes of this marathon tripleheader weekend for the Ladies in Blue. The Azzuri offense mounted some skilled attacks, and after a Spirit foul at the top of the box, Soha drilled a direct free kick into the corner to give the Azzuri a 1-0 lead about midway through the second half. The Spirit fought valiantly to find the equalizer, ultimately outshooting the Azzuri 13-8 in the second half, but only the Azzuri found the nets again. Mackenzie, pushing up from right fullback, helped control a ball at about 40 yards out of the Spirit box and weaved her way through two defenders to set up a shot that she nailed from about 25 yards out to put Azzuri up 2-0. Spirit had a number of mad scrambles in the Azzuri end, but the defense held on for the shutout and victory.

Lauren, with another great effort from her Secretaries of Defense, recorded her 21st Azzuri career shutout, 13th in league play (fall or spring)....

GOALS (D2 Spring Total): Soha (6), Mackenzie (1)