By Brett Compton ('12)
Fresh off the heels of a grueling, three-hour final exam, a collection of first-year students joined their second-year counterparts at Peden Stadium for the 2010 Intramural Co-Ed Soccer Championship game. The team was riding high on confidence, having battled back from a 1-0 deficit in the semifinal match to win 2-1. Scoring was not a problem for this squad, as Jessie Martin ('11), Hallie English ('12) and Ethan Olson ('12) had proved their offensive skills time and again throughout the season.
The championship match got off to a tentative start, with each team feeling out the others' tactics. This changed quickly when Eddie Kendralla ('12) made a strong run with the ball up the middle of the field. He threaded a ball through to teammate Annette Scott ('12), who, after beating one defender, was hauled down in the penalty area. The referee pointed to the penalty spot and Scott stepped up to take the kick. She coolly shot it past the outstretched arms of the opposing goalkeeper, giving her side an early 2-0 lead. (As per league rules, female goals count double.)
A defensive miscue near the end of the first half nearly saw the opposing team pull within one, but goalie Brett Brecheisen ('12) came out to make an important stop. The first-year goalie had made some very important saves throughout the season, this one being no different.
The second half belonged to the Sports Administration students, as the team dominated the run of play. The squad was rewarded for its pressure midway through the second half when Janny Lavery ('11) tapped home a rebound to make the score 4-0. Having just made a solid defensive play, Jeremy Langton ('12) played a long ball forward that English fired towards goal. The opposing goalkeeper made the stop, but spilled the rebound to Lavery. The forward made no mistake and hammered it home to all but put the match away.
The 4-0 lead held, and upon the final whistle the combination first and second-year Sports Administration students had won the 2010 Intramural Co-Ed Soccer Championship.
