Va. State Cup: Beach FC Black edges FASA Impact Premiere in U-15 Girls play

By Jimmy LaRoue

It took overtime, but with a long-range goal from Courtney Ballow, Beach FC Black defeated FASA Impact Premiere 2-1 Saturday in an Under-15 Girls VYSA State Cup match at the Hampton Roads Soccer Complex in Virginia Beach, Va.

The hard-fought victory advances Beach FC Black to the round of 16, where the bracket's top seed, PWSI Courage 96 Red, awaits.

After a scoreless first half, right winger Anna Kohler got Beach FC Black the first goal of the match, stabbing home from the right corner of the six-yard box with the ball going off the goalkeeper’s hands and into the net.

FASA Impact Premiere tied the match 10 minutes later on a goal from Miranda Rupp and pressed play, putting Beach FC Black on its heels. But the match stayed tied at 1-1 after 80 minutes, forcing 30 minutes of overtime.

Neither team scored in the first 15 minutes, but Beach FC Black broke the deadlock in the 101st minute with Ballow’s shot from 35 yards out, which bounced over the goalkeeper and into the net.

FASA pressed for the equalizer in the waning minutes of overtime, earning three consecutive corners, but could not convert.

The Fredericksburg side had one last chance on what proved to be the last sequence of the match when a FASA striker broke free on goal, but had the ball tackled by a Beach FC defender inside the box. FASA players were looking for a penalty to be awarded on the play, and the assistant referee raised his flag to indicate a foul, but the referee waved play on. After the ball was played to the sideline, the final whistle blew.

“I’m very pleased,” said Beach FC Black coach Emily Kittleson. “They had really quick and fast forwards and really quick and fast defenders, and I think, quicker than the girls they matched up against. But because my girls were playing smart, not giving up the ball much, it wasn’t giving those girls as many opportunities to use their speed and beat us.”

Praising Beach FC Black’s overall effort in the match, Kittleson said the team is working on understanding tactics and learning to play in a 4-3-3 formation. But inclement weather has forced the team to miss numerous practices and her squad has only participated in two tournaments so far this season.

“Right now, really, our focus going forward is just making better decisions,” Kittleson said. “That’s what it comes down to.”

U-15G – VYSA State Cup
Beach FC Black        2    (OT)
FASA Impact Premiere     1
Location: Hampton Roads Soccer Complex

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