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Free Kick Blast Plus Goalie Play Nets Huskies First Win of Season

Free Kick Blast Plus Goalie Play Nets Huskies First Win of Season

by Cerwin D Haynes

 

 

Despite her team's struggles offensively, East Los Angeles College Women's Soccer head coach Jessica Correll noted that her players have made progress in recent weeks. Her players have begun to clock more time on their offensive half of the field, and have made strides in constructing set pieces.

That progress was somewhat evident in today's matchup with Victor Valley College, but it was some fortuity on a free-kick plus stellar goalie play that finally got the Green in the win column. Sophomore M Katherine Flores' blasted a 20ft free kick off the right side that squeaked behind Victor Valley College GK Sarah Fort in the 31'; that, and ELAC sophomore GK Karen Chen Zhao's exceptional play in front of the net got the job done for the Pack, 1-0. 

East LA begun the first half as the aggressor offensively - they had two shots on goal in the first 5:28, and it would be over 13 minutes before Victor Valley took a shot at the net. It was a scoreless game until the 31st minute, when a foul on Victor Valley gave ELAC a free kick. Flores lined up 20 ft away to the right of the net, and booted a shot to the left corner of the net. Fort initially got a hand on the ball and it looked like she was positioned for the save, but the ball bounced off her hand and behind her to the net.

In the second half, it was the Karen Chen Zhao show... and it had to be. East LA's defense seemed a step slow in the latter period, giving the visiting Rams multiple direct attack lanes to the net. But Zhao, the 2023 All-SCC first-teamer, diffused all of VVC's attempts and held down the defense until her teammates got back up to speed later in the half. 

 

HUSKY BITS

  • Zhao has 31 saves over the team's last three games including today. 
  • ELAC's defense has made strides slowing down their opponents this season. To wit: September of 2023 saw East LA surrender 28 goals in seven contests. This past September, however, saw the Huskies give up only 13 goals in six matches.

 

UP NEXT:

Coach Correll's crew has a week off until next Tuesday, where they begin SCC play hosting LA Harbor College on October 8 at 1:30pm.