RallyNorth.net

Londonderry falls to champs

Wednesday, October, 31 By Ryan Lambert
Staff writer

Third-seeded Londonderry fell to No. 4 Exeter, the defending state champions, 1-0 in a hard-fought game that was won with just 12 minutes to go in regulation.

"It's really hard," said coach Jim Tremblay. "We have a team that certainly, as a seasonal goal, had the championship in mind. We lost to Exeter 1-0 in the regular season, and we hoped for a different outcome this time, and changed up our strategy slightly.

"We came out a little bit flat in the first half and made some adjustments at halftime that actually did put a lot more pressure on Exeter in the second half, and we played a much better game."

The lone goal of the game came on a free kick from the side of the box. Exeter's Anna Grant put a perfect cross on the ball, and Emma Hughes headed it past Londonderry goalie Elise Berry, who had been knocked down on the play.

"That's unfortunate for her that she didn't get the chance to make the save," said Tremblay. "Basically they had a wall of people that (knocked her over)."

It was an unfortunate end to a game that saw Londonderry turn its game completely around in the second half. Where the Lancers were on their heels in the first half (outshot 8-3, 4-1 on net), they were on the attack in the second. In the final 40 minutes, the Lancers cut the shot differential more than in half, finishing with six shots (three on net) to Exeter's 11 and five.

"They really came out stronger in the second half and really did well, and I think that was the main difference between the first and second half," Tremblay said. "Nerves and a few other things made us not believe in ourselves. I really feel like we had (an advantage) in the second half."