By Hal Mortensen
The regular season started with a team goal to be promoted to first division knowing the two top teams would be promoted for the 2010 season.
Our first game put the ladies against the WYSA Wilson explosion. The team used superior athletic ability to overpower the Explosion defense, tallying 6 goals in the game. Excellent defending from our back four allowed us to start many attacks down the flanks creating many opportunities and not allowing any chances for the Wilson team to score.
Game two the ladies faced a FVAA team that was a good match for our girls physically. With two of our strikers at partial strength due to the flu were a bit frustrated with failed scoring opportunities. We picked up a goal on a nice attack up our right side by Jamie Espinola who delivered a nice
pass for Leah Haynes to one touch it in for a 1-0 half time lead. Later in the second half Jamie Espinola put us up 2-0 with a fine move beating her player and going to goal for the final margin.
The next game we met the NRYSA Goldsboro sting playing them at the Bryan Park Complex due to a home field rain out. This match was very well played by the Jammer’s as we were able to move the ball into our attacking third for most of the match. Our defense backs played a great game keeping the Stings skilled front out of defensive third only allowing a few scoring chances that were stopped by good keeper play by Rebecca Mortensen and Emma Parish. The ladies scored 5 unanswered goals to win the match.
We then traveled to meet the team we had beaten in the FCC tournament championship, TFC White. This game proved to be a very good contest as TFC was looking to avenge their loss to us, and we wanted to prove we could win a second time. After trading goals in the opening 10 minutes both teams settle down and played a very exciting first half. The Jammers found themselves up 2-1 at the half and the second half started with a quick score for the Jammers. Like the first half TFC came right back with another goal to narrow the margin to 3-2. Near the end of regulation the Jammers put the insurance goal in to end the game in a 4-2 victory.
In our first home match of the season, we faced another team we had previously beaten in the FCC tournament in August, the CRSC Carolina Select. Once again they wanted to prove they were the better team and that certainly seemed to be the case in this match. They came out very aggressively applying pressure and beating our players to seemingly every ball. We became frustrated as a team and began making poor touches and allowed the Select team to dictate the match. They went up 2-0 on a nice set piece on a corner kick that was knocked down by our keeper in front of the goal, but finished by a Select striker. The second half saw more of the same as we allowed another goal to lose 3-0.
With a 4-1 record we traveled to Fayetteville to face the Force Premier. This was a very important game as the winner of the match would likely take second place in our division and determine which team would be offered a promotion to first division for 2010. The FSC team was very well coached and matched up very well with the Lady Jammer’s. Claudia Menjivar was the first to start the scoring on a nicely place diagonal pass assisted by Leah Haynes. The force applied a tremendous amount of pressure on our defense and at one point earned a direct kick from about 25 yard out. Rebecca Mortensen had to make a tip of the shot the banged off the crossbar nearly tying the game. The first half ended in a 1-0 lead and some shaky moments. The second half saw more great play from both sides and Mallory Jolly took the ball on a break into the 18 and was taken down. The penalty kick was awarded and Jamie Espinola netted the shot for a 2-0 lead. This second goal put the Force on their heals and 10 minutes later Mallory Jolly tallied the final goal on a great shot to beat their keeper. Due to the fact our last game was forfeited by the FSC Force United, this 3-0 win assured our ladies a division one promotion and a second place finish in the division.
In the regular season, our Ladies outscored the opponents 21-5 scoring 18 of a possible 21 points. This was accomplished through very hard work at practices and a desire to meet the teams goals set back in August. With a combined record of 14-2 the team has really stepped up and proven their desire to play at the next level.
The Ladies await the completion of the seeding process for the State Kepner Cup to start the weekend of October 24th.
