Prep girls soccer: Poway High scores draw with No. 2 team in nation
By Michael Bower
The Poway High girls soccer team might not be highly ranked in the nation, but on Wednesday night the Titans proved they can play with the country’s best teams.
La Costa Canyon entered the game without a loss or tie and as the second-ranked team in the country, but the Titans managed to add a blemish to that mark, earning a 1-1 draw against the Mavericks in a nonleague match at Poway High.
Jaime McCandless weaved through the Mavericks’ defense and fired a bender from about 20-yards out that found the back of the net in the final minutes to force the draw. It was only the second time in the last 10 games that the Mavericks (12-0-1) allowed a goal.
“It was a total individual effort,” Poway coach Jen Lalor-Nielsen said. “She dribbled about 30-yards with a couple defenders around her and bent it into the side net. It was an incredible shot.”
Poway has now gone three straight games without a loss after dropping four of its first six games. Lalor-Nielsen said the layoff over the Christmas break was a big reason for the sudden turnaround.
“I think the turning point for us was having no games over the Christmas break and just going back to the basics,” she said. “We have had three quality teams since the break and have gotten three quality results. The team really believes now that we are not just a team that might make the playoffs; they believe we are contenders now to be CIF champs.”
A draw against the No. 2 team in the country certainly shows the Titans have the potential to compete for a section title this season. And it was certainly a well-deserved tie as both teams had equal control of the ball throughout the match.
La Costa Canyon took a 1-0 lead in the final 12 minutes of the match. But Poway showed its first sign of overcoming adversity this season by answering with a goal of its own.
“The fact that we came back was important,” Lalor-Nielsen said. “That was the best thing that happened. We really deserved at least a tie in that game with the amount of ball possession that we had.”
The Titans will look to carry their momentum into Palomar League play next week. Poway will face Mt. Carmel on Tuesday before opening league play with another top-ranked team in the nation and rival Torrey Pines Thursday at 5 p.m. at Torrey Pines High.
Short URL: http://www.pomeradonews.com/?p=20489
Posted by Michael Bower
on Jan 11 2012. Filed under High School, Sports.
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