Domination lost in translation

Bulldogs control, but fall in 3-A girls’ soccer

May 18, 2008 - 12:24AM

GREENSBORO - It became a not-so-comforting translation for the Williams High School girls' soccer team.
Great game. Bad result.

The Bulldogs, who at times dominated play, dropped a 2-1 decision to host Western Guilford in the fourth round of the Class 3-A state playoffs Saturday night.

"It's hard to tell the girls that we played a great game and didn't win," Williams coach Dennis Deutschle said.

Williams (18-4-1) held a 23-9 edge in shots, but too many didn't find the mark or were corralled by Western Guilford goalkeeper Caitlin Gillis.

So many ventures into the scoring area went for naught that the frustration built for the Bulldogs.

"We always seem to pull through," senior forward Noell McCain said. "We just couldn't finish."

So instead, the season is finished for the Bulldogs. Western Guilford (22-1-1), which had been eliminated by Williams the past two years, goes on to the East Region final at White Oak.

Western Guilford's Claire O'Keeffe opened the scoring with 16:43 remaining in the first half, placing a shot in the upper right-hand corner of the net. The Hornets extended the lead slightly more than five minutes into the second half when Elizabeth Ashton scored as she was taken down in front of the net.

"Even the second goal, we weren't worried," Deutschle said. "We can score."

By then, the missed chances were mounting for the Bulldogs, who during one frantic first-half sequence saw the ball bounce off the cross bar. Caroline Cross worked the ball into scoring position without the desired result. And a little later, Jen Bass was caught from behind and unable to take a clear shot at the goal.

McCain broke through with 18:34 left in the game off an assist from Bass. That proved to tease the Bulldogs, who on numerous occasions thereafter threatened to tie the game. Clara Chandler was denied about three minutes after McCain's goal, and the list grew from there.

Much of the shortcomings stemmed from Gillis, who, according to Western Guilford coach George Kennedy, was making her first start at goalkeeper since sustaining a concussion in last year's playoff loss to Williams. She was credited with 13 saves, not to mention collecting a few other balls out of harm's way.

Kennedy said he noticed times when the Hornets, who outscored their first three playoff opponents by a combined 21-4 score, weren't in attack mode, but he liked his team's counterattack.

"Soccer is a funny game," he said. "You have the ebb and flow with the game."

It wasn't so amusing to the Bulldogs.

"It's a shame to dominate a game offensively and not finish," Deutschle said.

Several Williams players slumped on the field when the game ended.
"We were just unfortunate," McCain said.