Stratford soccer team takes down FPD
The Stratford Eagles had quite a battle with FPD on Thursday night on the soccer field but found a way to remain undefeated with a 1-0. Bella Gill outfought two defenders in the corner and centered a perfect pass to Ellie Peterson, who calmly put the ball in the net in the 66th minute to move Stratford to 13-0 on the season and secured the No. 1 seed for the area. FPD drops to 11-2-2 and will head into the playoffs as the No. 2 seed from the area.
THREE WHO MATTERED
Gill: She came close to scoring several times and was one of the keys in the second half, which saw the Eagles control the tempo of the game. Before she assisted on the winning goal, she was on the ground but got up and battled for the ball in the far left corner and centered the ball perfectly to Peterson, who had been left by herself, for the goal.
Peterson: The sophomore for the Eagles came through when the game had the feel of a penalty kick type of game and scored the only goal.
Carolynn Dromsky: The Stratford goalkeeper was tested early by FPD as the Vikings seemed to be in the flow in the beginning minutes of the game. Dromsky turned away all six shots that were taken by FPD in the first half.
THEY SAID IT
Stratford head coach Kate Blankenship on the battle she knew would happen against FPD: “FPD has a very good soccer team and it wasn’t a surprise that the game would be very close. But this team has battled all year and we stepped up again when we needed to.”
Blankenship on the early push by FPD: “We knew they would come out fast and they probably got into the game a little quicker than we did. Once we adjusted to what was going on we were fine. Our defenders stepped up and Bella Gill once again showed why she will be successful at the next level.”
Gill on the assist: “I just battled and tried to get the ball to the middle and saw a blue jersey that I tried to get it to. Ellie made a great kick for the score. At the beginning of the season I wasn’t sure if we could be undefeated at this point, but we just kept believing in each other.”
Peterson on the goal: “I was in the middle an no one was really around me and Bella won the ball and made a perfect pass to me. I just tried to one touch the ball into the goal and thankfully it worked out.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Both teams head into the playoffs next week
This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 9:39 PM with the headline "Stratford soccer team takes down FPD."