Girls Soccer: Garnet Valley has found its groove

CONCORD — Two weeks ago, the Garnet Valley girls soccer team sat at halftime against Penncrest, trailing by a goal and staring down the barrel of a fourth straight loss to start the season.

Just 14 days on from that contest, in which the Jaguars rallied for an impressive come-from-behind win in overtime, the team is riding high, having won seven straight. The latest installment in that run of good form, a 5-0 win over Marple Newtown Tuesday afternoon, showed just how powerful the wave of momentum is.

“I think the big difference is that we’re playing for each other and we’re actually really enjoying playing together,’ said central defender Jackie Sever, a focal point of a Jags defense that kept a fourth straight clean sheet. “We’re working as a team and keeping our high energy up. I think the first three games, we lacked energy and weren’t coming out as strong.’

Tuesday’s performance, one in which Garnet Valley (7-3, 5-1 Central League) kept Marple largely in check, was undoubtedly one from a confident side. The Jaguars scored within a minute of the start of each half. They carried a 3-0 lead into halftime, content to see out the win with their staunch defense. And as the five goalscorers attest, they were able to spread around the offense, getting contributions from up and down the roster.

“It was definitely a team effort, and everyone put in a lot of work for it,’ said forward Britney Dragoni, who was in the middle of several goals and was unlucky not to find the scoresheet herself. “You can’t do anything without everyone putting in effort, and it just definitely was a team thing. There were no individuals. We really took advantage of getting the goal and making good plays.’

On both sides of the ball, the pieces seem to be clicking for the Jaguars. The offensive onslaught started just 33 seconds into the game, with Emily Mathewson getting on the end of a loose ball in the box for her first goal of the season. Also getting her first tally of the season was reserve senior forward Kristen Garrity, who found a spinning, deflected ball played into the box, took a touch to round the goalkeeper and slotted home a shot into the open cage from an acute angle in the 27th minute to make the score 3-0.

The diversity in finishing has been a recent trend for Garnet Valley.

Click here to read the remainder of the article. http://www.gametimepa.com/delaware/ci_26593009/girls-soccer-garnet-valley-has-found-its-groove