Xtreme Unable to Finish Off Attack

Xtreme and their families braved the John Hanson Highway and Renaissance enthusiasts to take on ASA Attack in the team's farthest road game to date in Crownsville, Maryland. The Attack showed impressive skills during warm-ups, however, these skills did not translate to the game and Red very much had their way with Attack during the game's opening minutes. As practiced and planned, the Red offense and mid-fielders kept the home team predicable and back on their heels, driving them into the far corners of their own zone. Red came away with some quality scoring chances early, but it would be Attack who would score first at 11 minutes on a broken Xtreme play.

Just five minutes later, the Attack would suffer their own broken play when a poorly driven goal kick would be plucked out of the air by a hungry and waiting First Aid. She pulled the ball out of the air, settled it with two touches and then blasted a shot over the keeper to the far post and the back of the net.

The teams then traded scoring chances, with Xtreme relying on finesse and precision passing, whereas Attack seized opportunities from broken Red plays and errant passes. GK Sharkey kept Red in the game making seven quality saves, until finally, at 25 minutes, Attack broke the tie. An intercepted Xtreme pass set up an Attack attacker inside the penalty area. She blasted a shot that rocked the crossbar and, luckily for her, landed at her feet. She finished it the second time and we'd head into the half with Attack up 2-1.

Just seven minutes into the second half Attack would add to their lead when a loose ball in the box got behind all of Xtreme and a waiting Attack player nudged it across the goal line.

But Xtreme is no stranger to playing from behind, and the girls absolutely screwed on their game faces, determined to come back. Happy Feet settled all further questions in the goal, turning away six good chances, and Red kept the pressure on, whereas Attack began to tire and foul. With time running down, Red through everything they had at the Attack defense, and they were rewarded.

At 68 minutes, Sharkey, chasing down a loose ball was fouled, setting up an indirect kick. Big Foot sent the ball into the penalty area where it bounced around the three Red attackers until it found itself on the Taxman's foot. She didn't hesitate, slamming it past the sprawling Attack keeper.

As always, Xtreme played right up to the final whistle, but in the end, there would not be enough clock in this game. The match ended two minutes later, 3-2. Had there been an additional five minutes in the game, there's no doubt Xtreme would have tied the game or won, but that's why there's a clock.

Xtreme players turned in an impressive, never-say-die performance, which the referee commented on to Coach Lance after the game. "Your girls played a very nice game out there," the veteran official said. "I liked their offensive play – very nice."

Xtreme looks forward to hosting CYA Cesna next week at Sprague, and they hope to come away with the first regular season win of the season.