VA RUSH ACADEMY BLUE ANYTHING BUT
The Virginia Rush Academy Blue U-12 Girls team, coached by Kevin Carmichael, has reached the semifinals of the Virginia State Cup. To accomplish that feat the girls have won four straight games. In the first round, they faced their sister team – Virginia Rush Academy Black. The game began fiercely, like two girls fighting over the same boy. But Blue scored quickly on a beautiful one-touch volley by Emily Baragar and were never headed. Alexandra Connell (2), Sh’nia Gordon (2), and Brooke Mister also scored in the 6-2 victory. In the second round, the Blue faced the Great Falls Real Force. Blue dominated the action, controlling the ball and the midfield for long spells, and cruised to a 5-0 victory. Goals were scored by Connell (2), Mister, Gordon, and Marie Shoen. The Blue’s third game was against an aggressive Loudoun Black team. The play was largely even, though the referee called a very tight match, whistling the Blue for five fouls in the first half alone. With ten minutes left in the game, Gordon found Connell towards the right sideline. Connell sped upfield, juked the goalie, and played the ball in with a left leg that Rush Girls Director of Coaching Vyburt Silcott had described as “sick” or “broke.” Apparently, it healed at the right time.
In the quarterfinals, Blue played the Fauquier County Soccer Club Blackwatch Red. The Blue fell behind 1-0 early in the second half. With its tournament life about to expire, the Blue were rescued by Natalie Simon, who scored with only two minutes remaining. The teams played two scoreless overtime periods, and then went to penalty kicks. Maeryn Long, Shoen, and Baragar banged home three consecutive penalties to propel the Blue through to the semifinals.
Anchoring the Blue has been Jessie Cavolt in goal. In the words of Shakespeare, “though she be but little, she is fierce.” Cavolt has been in goal for three and half games, two ten-minute overtime periods, and three rounds of penalty kicks. To date, only one ball has crossed the endline into the goal. Amazingly, Cavolt has not trained as a goalie and usually plays midfield and defense. Her play against Loudoun Black could be described in one word: flawless.
Also tough has been the Blue’s defense. Catie Espinoza, Mister, and Maeryn Long have turned back all comers. Espinoza has demonstrated a knack for head balls, while Mister has personified coolness under pressure, effortlessly juking any defender in her path. Baragar, Mister, and Shoen have also dominated while alternating turns in central midfield. Gordon has worked tirelessly in the midfield, while Sarah Moore and Jordan Simon have filled in ably when needed. Through four games, the Blue’s coach, Kevin Carmichael, has remained unphased, inspiring the girls’ with his confidence and making the right tactical adjustments when needed.
Up next for the Blue is Loudoun Red, the top-ranked girls team in Virginia, Champions of the 2009 Jefferson Cup and the 2008 WAGS tournament, ranked No. 2 in the country by soccerincollege.com, and No. 19 in nationalsoccerranking.com. The Blue are looking forward to the challenge.
The Virginia Rush Academy Blue U-12 Girls team, coached by Kevin Carmichael, has reached the semifinals of the Virginia State Cup. To accomplish that feat the girls have won four straight games. In the first round, they faced their sister team – Virginia Rush Academy Black. The game began fiercely, like two girls fighting over the same boy. But Blue scored quickly on a beautiful one-touch volley by Emily Baragar and were never headed. Alexandra Connell (2), Sh’nia Gordon (2), and Brooke Mister also scored in the 6-2 victory. In the second round, the Blue faced the Great Falls Real Force. Blue dominated the action, controlling the ball and the midfield for long spells, and cruised to a 5-0 victory. Goals were scored by Connell (2), Mister, Gordon, and Marie Shoen. The Blue’s third game was against an aggressive Loudoun Black team. The play was largely even, though the referee called a very tight match, whistling the Blue for five fouls in the first half alone. With ten minutes left in the game, Gordon found Connell towards the right sideline. Connell sped upfield, juked the goalie, and played the ball in with a left leg that Rush Girls Director of Coaching Vyburt Silcott had described as “sick” or “broke.” Apparently, it healed at the right time.
In the quarterfinals, Blue played the Fauquier County Soccer Club Blackwatch Red. The Blue fell behind 1-0 early in the second half. With its tournament life about to expire, the Blue were rescued by Natalie Simon, who scored with only two minutes remaining. The teams played two scoreless overtime periods, and then went to penalty kicks. Maeryn Long, Shoen, and Baragar banged home three consecutive penalties to propel the Blue through to the semifinals.
Anchoring the Blue has been Jessie Cavolt in goal. In the words of Shakespeare, “though she be but little, she is fierce.” Cavolt has been in goal for three and half games, two ten-minute overtime periods, and three rounds of penalty kicks. To date, only one ball has crossed the endline into the goal. Amazingly, Cavolt has not trained as a goalie and usually plays midfield and defense. Her play against Loudoun Black could be described in one word: flawless.
Also tough has been the Blue’s defense. Catie Espinoza, Mister, and Maeryn Long have turned back all comers. Espinoza has demonstrated a knack for head balls, while Mister has personified coolness under pressure, effortlessly juking any defender in her path. Baragar, Mister, and Shoen have also dominated while alternating turns in central midfield. Gordon has worked tirelessly in the midfield, while Sarah Moore and Jordan Simon have filled in ably when needed. Through four games, the Blue’s coach, Kevin Carmichael, has remained unphased, inspiring the girls’ with his confidence and making the right tactical adjustments when needed.
Up next for the Blue is Loudoun Red, the top-ranked girls team in Virginia, Champions of the 2009 Jefferson Cup and the 2008 WAGS tournament, ranked No. 2 in the country by soccerincollege.com, and No. 19 in nationalsoccerranking.com. The Blue are looking forward to the challenge.
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