Lamar takes 1-0 thriller behind goal by Covington

By Staff
SHOT ON GOAL Lamar's Jessi Fort, right, takes a shot against Starkville goalie Avery Allen as Starkville's Chelsea Phillips looks on. Allen turned the Lamar scoring attempt away, but the Lady Raiders went on to take a 1-0 victory at Northeast Park on Thursday afternoon.Photo by Kyle Carter/The Meridian Star
By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
Aug. 22, 2003
A lone gray cloud unburdened itself of its contents over the Northeast Park Soccer Complex on Thursday just 21 minutes into the Lamar School girls' soccer match against Starkville Academy.
The 10-minute downpour proved to be a catch-22 situation for the players, as the Lady Raiders (2-0) notched a 1-0 victory over the Lady Volunteers (0-1-1).
"That downpour cooled us off, but it made them a little heavier," said Lamar head soccer coach Eddie Escobar. "It was difficult, but we have been training pretty hard on our fitness. It is showing, and these girls don't give up."
Lamar fought through the deluge to score the game's only goal.
Raiders forward Callie Covington netted the ball at the game's 30-minute mark.
The eighth grader corralled a loose ball that was deflected by Starkville goaltender Avery Allen into the middle of the Lady Volunteers' goal box.
Covington was able to slip the ball into the middle of the net before two Starkville defenders could converge on her.
"(Covington) is a great little player," Escobar said. "She has phenomenal skills, and she can read the play and think a step ahead."
The Lady Raiders' goal was set up by a quick kick off a dead ball by Sara Michelle Nicholson.
The senior player sent a crossing pass to the center of Starkville's goalbox, after Lamar was awarded a free kick in the left corner of the field.
Nicholson's fast start caught the Lady Volunteers' defense off guard forcing Allen to move out of position to make the initial stop that led to the goal.
"If you set up quick, you can get a goal like that," Nicholson said. "We were just trying to catch them off guard and go for it."
Lamar's goal, which came a minute before the rain stopped, came after the home squad controlled the ball for most off the opening half.
The Lady Raiders fought off the Lady Volunteers' initial push in the first two minutes of the game, and were able to keep the ball in Starkville's defensive end for nearly 30 minutes of the 35-minute half.
"Our game is to keep the ball on the ground and keep position," Escobar said. "We have one of the biggest fields of all the teams we play against. We control the ball and distribute."
Despite the constant pressure Lamar put on the Starkville defense, the team struggled to get shots past the opposing goaltender.
Allen stopped 11 of Lamar's 12 shots, including eight of nine in the first half.
"(Allen) was pretty good," Nicholson said. "We were striking a lot of shots up. If we would have kept them low, we may have been able to slip a few past her because it was so wet."
Starkville was able to put pressure on Lamar's defense in the closing 10 minutes of the game.
But the Lady Raiders defense, anchored by goaltender Lizzie Williams who made seven saves for the shut out, was able to rebuff the Lady Volunteers' attack.
"Our defense is definitely solid," Escobar said. "It is probably our biggest asset. We have a strong defense that keeps us in the game."
Lamar continues its season on Saturday as the team takes part in the Pillow Academy jamboree in Greenwood.

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Mousey Brown

News

Russellville First Baptist Church receives historical marker

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Meeting a higher standard – Russellville High School JROTC

News

RCS BOE announces new superintendent  

News

Miss Dream Girl Pageant names winners

Franklin County

First Metro Bank hosts FAME Girls’ Ranch donation drive

News

PCHS holds annual Shelby Grissom Memorial Fashion Show

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: VFW Post 5184 – ‘No One Does More For Veterans’

Features

Supporting students’ futures

Features

Red Bay Garden Club discusses amaryllis planting

Franklin County

UA announces local students for fall 2023 President’s, Dean’s, graduation lists

News

School news

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Troy Oliver

Franklin County

Appropriations bill passes, allots more than $3 million for new Russellville library/multipurpose center 

Franklin County

Franklin County Cattlemen’s Association names Cattleman of the Year 

Franklin County

Franklin County votes: Unofficial March 5 primary election results 

Franklin County

Funding for new Russellville library, multipurpose community center expected this week

Features

Faces of Franklin County: BTCPA

News

GFWC Russellville Book Lovers Club sponsors downtown art crawl

Franklin County

PROGRESS 2024: Veteran Spotlight – Cody Bragwell

Franklin County

42nd annual Miss RHS pageant names winners 

News

Miss RHS pageant takes place Friday

Franklin County

Political announcement: David Hester speaks about run for reelection as county commissioner

Franklin County

BTCPA auditions for final production of season take place March 3-4 

x