By Staff
STOP RIGHT THERE  Lamar's Kelly Brown attempts to cut off Pillow Academy's Carter Thomas. The visitors from Greenwood took a 1-0 win over the Lady Raiders at Northeast Park on Wednesday afternoon. Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian Star.
By Ryan Satcher / staff writer
Aug. 22, 2002
Pillow Academy has been in the state championship game the last five years and is always very competitive in MPSA girls soccer, but it took everything the Lady Mustangs had to pull out a win Wednesday afternoon at Northeast Park.
Mary Beth Boler scored on a corner kick for Pillow in the first half and the visitors from Greenwood held on to take a very close 1-0 win.
The Lady Raiders defense gave Pillow all it could handle in the game, but struggled a bit offensively.
Pillow had the best scoring chances in the first half of play. The first chance came when Jane Critz broke free. She was unable to get off a good shot, however, and Lamar keeper Cheryl Luquire made the save.
Pillow also had a free kick from just outside box on the right side of the field and almost scored. The high shot was deflected over the goal by Luquire.
On the corner kick that followed, Boler ripped a high curving shot on goal. Luquire tried to fist the ball over the goal but was unable to get a good hand on it. The ball rolled into the far corner of the goal to make the score 1-0.
Pillow also got close to scoring on a corner kick later in the half. The ball was free in the box for a few seconds but no one could get off a shot and the ball was finally cleared.
Lamar got its best opportunity later in the half. Kelly Brown ripped a long shot with a lot of power. The ball bounced away from the Pillow keeper a bit, but no one was there and the keeper was able to pick up the ball in time.
Lamar's defense bent but didn't break the rest of the half and Pillow led just 1-0 after the first half.
Pillow kept the pressure up in the second half. Kaley Fincher had the best opportunity of the half when she broke free on the left side of the field. She blasted a shot that went just high and over the goal.
Lamar had a corner later in the half and the ball was free in the box for a few seconds but no one could get a good foot on it.
A lot of the play during the second half was in the midfield area and Luquire and the Lady Raider defense kept Pillow from adding to the lead. Lamar, however, was unable to score and fell to the visitors in a very well played 1-0 ballgame.
Lamar will be in action again today when the Lady Raiders travel to Columbus to play Heritage Academy.