Cosmos secure semis berth

Springfield advanced to the Division II girls soccer semifinal Saturday with a 2-0 win over the Stratton Mountain School, but it is not clear when that semifinal game can be played.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20121028/SPORTS02/710289871

Published October 28, 2012 in the Rutland Herald Cosmos secure semis berth By POODY WALSH CORRESPONDENT SPRINGFIELD — Springfield advanced to the Division II girls soccer semifinal Saturday with a 2-0 win over the Stratton Mountain School, but it is not clear when that semifinal game can be played. What is clear is that Hartford, with its 1-0 win over U-32 on Friday night, will be the opponent. But with the deluge of rain coming it does not appear the game can be played on Wednesday as scheduled. Springfield Athletic Director Joe Brown said he was going to try to get the game rescheduled for Monday, ahead of the storm. Springfield coach Christian Craig was a little concerned about playing on Monday. “We just came off a physical game today and would have to practice Sunday,” Craig said. “I don’t know about that.” If the game is not played Monday, and they wait until after the storm, Gurney Field probably cannot be used. As it is now, the field is still soggy and pockmarked from earlier rain and games, and Brown said he would probably have to look for a neutral site. The championship game is scheduled for Saturday in Randolph. Springfield, which beat the Lady Bears on Oct. 17, 1-0, had a late 1-0 lead Saturday, but Stratton was on a momentum run that was suddenly halted when Springfield was awarded a penalty kick. Stratton coach Jesse Mills protested the call, but to no avail. The officials conferred after the call and Mills was told it was called for a push in the back in the penalty area. Springfield converted to make it 2-0 and held on for the win. “That goal pretty much took the wind out of our sails,” said Mills. Springfield, the No. 2 seed, is now 13-2-1 while No. 7 Stratton Mountain finishes at 6-3-1. Stratton played just nine regular-season games because of time constraints. “We take our soccer seriously, but theses players are skiers and snowboarders first and have a lot of things to do,” said Mills. “This is the first time since 2009 that we played enough games to qualify for the tournament.” Following the controversial goal there was a collision as a Stratton player went down. Mills wanted a card on the play and his protest resulted in him getting a yellow card. The first goal, the one that mattered the most, came less than two minutes in. Cosmo defender Brandi Sargent got the play going as she brought the ball over midfield to midfielder Meghan Courchesne who hit striker Sara Locke on the run. Locke’s shot was stopped by Stratton keeper Alice Merryweather, but there was a rebound and Chelsea McAllister was there to bang it home. Then for 70 minutes or so there were many chances, Springfield having the push in the first half and the Lady Bears getting things together in the second half, but no scoring until the penalty shot. While Craig was obviously delighted with the win, he thought the offense could have been a little crisper. “We’re still not stringing our passes together,” he said. “However, the defense once again was solid.” McAllister ended with both goals and she also converted the penalty kick. The Cosmos had a 9-4 edge in shots on goal and 4-2 in corners. Springfield keeper Lauren Bolduc authored the shutout and had to be at her best during a stretch in the second half when Stratton’s Payton Alexander tested her. Alexander first had a shot deflected, forcing Bolduc to change directions to make the diving save. She then had a shot from the side get tipped out by Bolduc who caught a break when there was no Stratton player around to collect the carom.