QO girls soccer falls to 0-3 with loss to Urbana

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Despite even shot totals, Hawks deal Cougars 3-0 defeat
by Thomas Floyd Special to The Gazette

For the Urbana girls soccer team, Tuesday's 3-0 win over Quince Orchard was all about making the most of its opportunities.

Strikers Samie Abernethy and Katie Parness scored on the Hawks' only two shots on goal in the first half, midfielder Jenny Marshall chipped in the third tally after the break, and Urbana improved to 2-1 with the victory in Gaithersburg.

"It really was a strange 3-0 game," said Urbana coach Chuck Nichols. "We are not 3-0 better than Quince Orchard."

Quince Orchard fell to 0-3 following Labor Day weekend losses to Thomas Johnson and C. Milton Wright.

The two teams were largely even throughout the match, splitting possession and trading scoring opportunities. Although Urbana did hold an edge in total shots, the advantage was a mere 11-10.

"Normally, I'm extremely upset after a 3-0 loss, but I really don't feel that way tonight," said Quince Orchard coach Peg Keiller. "We definitely have some things to work out, but I saw a lot of good things from this squad."

Quince Orchard enjoyed the better of the play in the early going. Three minutes in, forward Jessica Konecke blew past Urbana right back Angela LaBella and launched a far-post effort that was tipped wide by Hawks goalkeeper Lauren Deegan.

Cougars midfielder Isabelle Latour then buzzed a free kick just high in the 11th minute. Moments later, Deegan mishit a clearance straight to Quince Orchard freshman Mary McMeekin, but the midfielder could not quite corral the ball and failed to get a shot off.

Urbana went ahead in the 16th minute when Abernethy slipped behind Cougars center back Kelly Whiteis and connected with teammate Sarah Micol's through ball. The offside flag stayed down as Quince Orchard left back Madeline Korol appeared to keep Abernethy onside from across the field, and the Hawks sophomore tucked her finish into the lower left corner.

"I thought they had the best of us," Nichols said. "The goal was completely against the run of play, and it kind of put them back on their heels."

One minute later, Urbana was dealt a blow when LaBella was sent off. Having already been cautioned for a rough slide tackle, LaBella was ruled to have intentionally handled a Quince Orchard pass, giving her a second yellow card.

Thanks to a goalkeeping gaffe, Urbana doubled its lead eight minutes before halftime. Parness drove a 23-yard free kick right at Quince Orchard goalkeeper Gabby Paolini, but the shot slipped through her hands and trickled over the goal line.

Quince Orchard's best chance to cut the deficit came two minutes after the break. Deegan charged off her line to intercept a pass and, following a scramble 20 yards from goal, the ball fell to Cougars forward Lauren Holdsworth. With Deegan caught out of position, the sophomore took aim from outside the penalty area at an empty net, only to see her bid sail high.

The Hawks closed the scoring in the 54th minute. A cross from the right flank fell to Marshall, and the sophomore beat defender Sami Slonim to the ball, sliding a close-range strike past Paolini.