QO Defeats South Hagerstown to Move on to Quarterfinals

On a chilly Saturday morning, the Quince Orchard girls' soccer team opened up the 2010 playoff campaign with a first round win over visiting South Hagerstown, 5-0.

Shannon Dwyer, in her second game back from a 5-week injury, opened up the scoring in the 9th minute. Timing her run through the back line, Dwyer receive a ball from fellow senior Sami Slonim, calmly advanced toward goal, and slotted the ball to the left corner. After several good opportunities, the Cougars added to the tally in the 27th minute. Following South Hagerstown's one shot of the game, a save by Gabby Paolini, and a resulting corner kick, Kelly Whiteis sent a long clearance over midfield just beyond a waiting Jessica Konecke. Konecke outpaced her defender and finished with a solid left footed shot into the right corner. QO went into the half up 2-0.

In the second half, QO cleaned up their game a bit and enjoyed more long stretches of possession. The Cougars made the possession count in the 60th minute, when Whiteis delivered a ball into the middle of the box to a waiting Maddie Crow. Crow took one touch in the air and with composure, knocked the ball into the net for her first goal of her QO career (congrats MADDIE!). QO added to the tally in the 64th minute, when Allie Solomon delivered one of her many excellent balls into the box. Mary McMeekin jumped high to head the ball just over the advancing SH goalkeeper. The Cougars closed out the scoring in the 65th minute. On her 4th corner kick of the game, Morgan Dorset sent her typical dangerous ball into the middle of the box. Dwyer made an excellent run at goal, jumping in front of the GK, just unable to reach the ball. However, in the confusion of Dwyer's run, the GK was unable to collect the ball and knocked it into her own net.

The Cougars move on the 3A West Quarterfinals. They will host Clarksburg on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 4 PM. During division play on Sept. 24, QO defeated Clarksburg 2-1 in overtime, after being under 2 minutes from losing the game in regulation. This sets up what should be a well-played and hard-fought rematch.