Cougars Move on to Region Semifinals

The #4 seed QO girls' soccer team advanced to the Maryland 3A West Region semifinals with a 3-1 penalty kick decision over the visiting Clarksburg Coyotes. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the run of play, as regulation and two overtimes ended 0-0.

Though clearly not playing their best soccer, the Cougars still managed to create several quality scoring opportunities. In the first half, junior forward Jessica Konecke broke free on the left, and smashed a left-footed shot off the crossbar. Senior Sami Slonim was in perfect position to follow, but her header attempt was also denied by the pipe. A few minutes later, junior midfielder Allie Solomon broke through the middle but her attempt went just high. In the second half, Konecke again had the better of the Cougar's chances, but hit one shot just wide and forced the Clarksburg GK into a save. The save of the game, however, belonged to QO's junior goalkeeper Gabby Paolini. Though the QO defense had made it difficult for the Coyotes to have many quality chances at goal, they conceded a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick for Clarksburg with about 12 minutes remaining in the match. The shot went towards the left side netting, but Paolini dove the right way, covered a lot of ground, and pushed the ball wide to keep the Cougars alive.

Regulation ended 0-0, as did both overtimes, sending the match to be decided by penalty kicks. Clarksburg shot first, and this time was able to get the ball past Paolini to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman midfielder Mary McMeekin channeled her sister Maureen's 2007 PK magic and safetly put the ball away to tie the shootout at 1-1. In the 2nd round, Paolini made a diving save to her left to deny the Clarksburg attempt. Junior defender Morgan Dorset then calmly nailed her shot to put the Cougars up 2-1. In the 3rd round, the Clarksburg player put her shot neatly into the top right corner, and Paolini didn't move. While the Coyotes celebrated, Paolini explained to the referee that he hadn't blown the whistle to start the shot. The Clarksburg player had to return to the spot, and this time went to the upper right, where the ball nicked off the crossbar and went safetly out of play. Sophomore forward Lauren Holdsworth then stepped up to the spot and put her shot into the back of the net to push the Cougar lead to 3-1. The pressure was on the Coyotes, as they had to make their 4th shot to force a 5th round, or even a 4th kick by QO. But Paolini had other plans, saving the kick and sending the Cougars into celebration. Paolini finished with 5 saves on the night, including saving 3 of 4 penalty kicks that Clarkburg put on goal.

The Region Semifinals will be held 3:00 pm on Thursday, Nov. 4th at host and #1 seed Damascus High School. During the regular season, the Cougars overcame an early goal in a hard-fought match to defeat the Hornets, 3-1, in a game that essentially clinched the division title for QO. The Hornets will enter as favorites at 12-2-1.