Post by Scott Crawford on May 6, 2013 13:42:26 GMT -6
MANDEVILLE TAKES DOWN NORTHSHORE
Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Tuesday, December 18, 1990
Author: DENNIS TYMKIW Correspondent
The winning streak is over for the Northshore Lady Panthers soccer team.
Until Monday night, the five-time defending state champion Panthers had not lost a game since the 1985 state championship game, a streak that was blemished by one tie in 75 outings.
However, led by Bente Holvik and Jennifer Chamberlain, the Mandeville Lady Skippers beat the Panthers, 3-0, to end Northshore 's winning streak and give the Skippers the early lead in District 2.
"This is awesome. It's what we've been wanting," said Chamberlain, a senior who was praised by Coach Joe Seragusa for her work in controlling the middle of the field.
"There is nothing sweeter than beating the state champs," Seragusa said. "We wanted it tonight. We're young, but we're skilled, and I think we'll just get stronger each year."
Northshore Coach James Scott said the loss was inevitable, his team's first in five games this season. The Panthers are 2-1 in district.
"Mandeville played a good game. This is the best I've seen them play this year," he said. "They outplayed us. They deserved to win."
The victory leaves Mandeville at 6-3 and alone in first place with a 4-0 district record.
Holvik scored her first goal almost midway through the first half, taking a throw-in and kicking the ball over her shoulder for the only goal of the first half.
She put the Skippers in control in the opening minute of the second half, driving up the right sideline and stuffing the ball past the Northshore goalie to put Mandeville ahead 2-0.
Nicole Brown scored the last goal of the game when Ashley Kreis placed a corner kick in front of the Northshore goal, and Brown knocked it in with three minutes gone in the second half.
Seragusa said his team's style of play was the difference in the game.
"We're using a direct style of play," Seragusa said. "We try to touch the ball less than five times before getting the ball in position to score. Everybody has to be in the right position. It's what we've been trying to do all year, and tonight it worked."
Scott said he told his team after the game to remember that the season is not over just because of one loss.
"I told them to forget about it," Scott said. "The best team won tonight. We've just got to come back and win the rest of the district games."
HARD WORK PAYS OFF FOR MANDEVILLE
Times-Picayune, The (New Orleans, LA) - Friday, December 21, 1990
Author: DENNIS TYMKIW Correspondent
One win does not make a season, but the Mandeville Lady Skippers' soccer victory over Northshore put the Skippers in control of their destiny for this year.
Mandeville shut out the Panthers, 3-0, Monday night, ending a Northshore streak of 75 games without a loss. Mandeville, 6-3 on the year and 4-0 in District 2, could all but clinch a playoff berth by defeating Slidell High on January 5.
" Northshore and Slidell have been the keys to our district," said senior captain Jessica Chamberlain of Mandeville. "We always get pumped up to beat them. Now, it feels really good that our hard work has payed off."
Northshore , 4-1 overall and 2-1 in district, has won the last five state championships, and had not been beaten since losing the 1985 state championship game to Slidell High. In 75 games since the loss, the Panthers had not lost a game, and had tied one game last season against Slidell.
Panther players said they were kind of depressed after the loss, but said they were trying to pick up each other's spirits.
"We just told each other that it is over now, don't dwell on it," said Panther senior Erin Seabolt.
"We knew in the beginning of the season that it would be hard to repeat as state champions and to win all of our games," said Northshore senior Susan Timko. "That hasn't changed, and we just have to try harder to make the playoffs."
Mandeville players and coaches credit a new style of soccer with helping the team win this season.
"We're using a direct style of play," Skippers Coach Joe Saragusa said. "We try to touch the ball less than five times before getting the ball in position to score.
"This style has come on in soccer in the last year," he said. "There was a big clinic that taught the direct style of play. Instead of having three or four attackers in our offensive sets, this style gives us at least five players attacking the ball. It also gets more players back to guard the net on defense.
"It's a new style, and can cause confusion for the other teams. We worked on it against Country Day, Baton Rouge and Slidell in our tournament, and were defeated all three times. We stuck with it, kept talking and coaching it, and it worked like a charm Monday night."
Saragusa said his team's pre-district schedule has contributed to its success so far.
"We did not schedule many weak teams," he said. "We've looked at some of the best teams in the state. We didn't lose badly, but we tried to learn something from each game. Now, we're training for January 5."
That game will be against the Slidell Lady Tigers, who, along with Mandeville and Northshore , was picked to be one of the top teams in District 2. Northshore Coach James Scott said the Mandeville-Slidell matchup will be one of the best games of the year, as well as one of the most crucial.
"I wish we weren't playing at the same time, because I'd like to watch that game myself," Scott said.
"Losing to Mandeville means we will have to win the rest of our district games," Scott said. "As good as our district is, I don't think any team can have two losses and make the playoffs. That will make the Slidell game even more important than it has been in the past.
"This is the first time in a while we've gone into a holiday break with a loss, especially in district. We know we've got a lot of work to do to get ready for the rest of our district games, because this is the closest district race we've had in a while."
Mandeville played a non-district game Thursday against Newman, then the Skippers will be off until the January 5 game against Slidell. Skipper players say the time off will help them get ready for the game.
"They beat us in our tournament, 5-1, and since they beat us, it is our turn to take them," said Bente Holivk, who scored two goals against Northshore . "We'll build up aggressivenss with the long layoff."
