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Cougars able to finish what they started in 3-1 win

By Tom King - Staff Writer | Oct 17, 2018

Staff photo by TOM KING Campbell goalie Mackenzie Wagner makes one of her six saves in front of Raymond's Anya Cunningham and teamates Mackenna Mathieu (12) and Madison Rossi during the Cougars' 3-1 win on Tuesday in Litchfield.

LITCHFIELD – Possession may be nine-tenths of soccer law, but it was that remaining one-tenth that the Campbell High School girls soccer team had been having trouble with all season.

Not on Tuesday. The Cougars shared the ball equally with a speedy Raymond team but this time made the most of their opportunities in a 3-1 win.

“Finishing has been an issue with us all season,” first-year Campbell coach Kevin Brassard said. “We tend to possess the ball really well and create opportunities, we don’t necessarily finish those opportunities.

“We’re working to build some momentum going into the playoffs. Last two games, seven goals, I’m pretty happy with that.”

Campbell, despite any scoring issues, insn’t exactly a weak sister in Division III. The Cougars are now 11-2-2, and they beat a good Raymond team that is now 9-5 and was missing superb starting goalie Savanna Demsey (strained neck).

In her place was the less experienced Madison Brown, who was under siege right away as the Cougars tested her with Karleigh Schultz putting in a rebound off a Madison Rossi shot just 1:04 into the game.

Raymond got the equalizer by talented striker Kathryn LaCasse some 16 minutes later to make it 1-1. However, the Cougars got what proved to be the game-winner with just under 10 to play in the half as Josephine Oberto broke in off a through pass from Autumn Thompson and easily scored.

“We changed our formation a little bit and responded,” Brassard said.

That turned the game, Raymond coach Tim Brusso said.

“If we could have gotten the next goal, it would have put them on their heels,” he said. “No complaints, the kids played hard. They (the Cougars) have a nice club.”

Knowing a backup was in goal, Brassard told his team to keep shooting and good things would happen in the second half.

“Absolutely, especially with the second half and the sun in her eyes,” Brassard said. “I thought it was important to shoot, shoot shoot and crash for rebounds.”

It took awhile, but they got that badly needed insurance goal by senior Madison Greenhalgh in the 64th minute, assisted by Thompson. It allowed the Cougars to breathe, as they knew junior goalie Mackenzie Wagner would hold the fort, as she did with six stops. Some were under duress for Wagner, who was top-notch as a Cougar freshman but played club fall soccer last year before returning this season.

“She gives us a sense of leadership and confidence in the back that I think is unparalleled,” Brassard said.

“We still wanted to keep our possession up and pressure up. They took us out of our game a little bit, but overall we’re moving in the right direction.”

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