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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Scotty Sports Corner, January 15, 2001
By Hollis Duncan
St. Margaret's School Staff Writer
Defense Steps Up to Give St Margaret's 2-1 Edge over St. Catherine's
Tappahannock, VA (January 15, 2001) - St. Margaret's varsity soccer team wrestled control from the start to defeat St. Catherine's 2-1 on January 10 in Richmond. The win, commanding and impressive by anyone's measure, left the Saints wondering what happened to the Scotties' defense since they last played in December.
Freshman Sarah Weakley (7) drives past a St. Catherine's defender in the Scotties' first match with the Saints on December 14 in Tappahannock. Weakley scored her first varsity goal on January 10 against the Saints in Richmond. Her shot helped lead St. Margaret's to a 2-1 league win.
After bypassing many Saints players with deft footwork and pretty touch passes up field, the Scotties' uncompromising defenders functioned like a wall. St. Margaret's never trailed, passing the ball splendidly in putting together a season-best defensive effort that more than compensated for their loss to St. Catherine's earlier in the season.
Senior goalie Elizabeth LeBlanc of Dallas led the way with 16 saves. LeBlanc received help from Washington, DC, native Danielle Magid, who anchored the Scotty defense.
"Whatever it takes," said LeBlanc with a smile following Wednesday's win. "We had the right mindset today." Magid, a junior, added, "The Saints have a lot of talent, but we do, too. We found that the best way to attack another good team is to go right at them."
Despite mustering 60 minutes of will-to-win soccer, St. Catherine's could not mount a comeback after an early 0-2 deficit. St. Margaret's freshman forward Sarah Weakley of Montross put the nail in the coffin early, scoring her first varsity goal to give SMS a 1-0 advantage. Junior forward Tonia Arsala of Arlington, VA, added one that sealed a solid League of Independent Schools victory for St. Margaret's.
"Our girls played with real heart," said Head Coach Rodney Watkins. "That's what makes a winner."
"Today was a good test for us, because we were playing great soccer, and they were too," Assistant Coach Whitfield Mastin added. "Our defense was the answer."
The Scotties travel to Charlottesville January 18 to play LIS opponent St. Anne's-Belfield. Their next home game will be against Steward on Wednesday, January 24 at the field adjacent to Essex Intermediate School in Tappahannock.
