Brown’s heroics in goal secure win for Cathedral

Published 12:00 am Monday, January 17, 2005

NATCHEZ &045; For more than 40 minutes, the Lady Jaguars pounded the Cathedral defense, ripping shot after shot at the Lady Green Wave goal.

Each time, freshman goalkeeper Abby Brown was up to the challenge. It took Brown’s best effort of the year to get a Cathedral win, but she was ready.

With a 1-0 lead going into the second half, the Lady Green Wave (5-7, 5-3) had to like its odds.

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But North Pike dominated the flow of play in the second period. Cathedral’s forays into the offensive end were few and far between.

North Pike had many chances to score in the second half, but couldn’t get any of them past Brown.

Brown’s most impressive save came off a shot by Emily Vanlandingham in the 64th minute. Vanlandingham hit a high, arching shot from the top of the penalty box that looked like it would sneak over Brown into the net.

At the last second, Brown threw her hands up and snagged the ball just before it went into the goal.

&uot;I thought, ‘That one’s gone,’ but I put my hands up anyway,&uot; Brown said.

That was the best chance North Pike had, but far from the only one. The Lady Jaguars forced Brown to make four more saves in the second half in addition to a number of shots by North Pike that went wide of the goal.

&uot;We maintained control for most of the second half. Our shots just didn’t go in,&uot; North Pike head coach Wes McCullough said. &uot;Their keeper did a great job, though, give her her due.&uot;

Cathedral head coach David Gaud attributed at least some of his team’s struggles in the second half to fatigue. The Lady Green Wave were coming off a 2-1 loss to Franklin County Friday night that may have sapped some of the life out of their legs.

&uot;Any win is a good win,&uot; Cathedral head coach David Gaud said. &uot;We just got tired at the end, but we hung in there to finish it out.&uot;

Brown’s most important save of the game at the end of the first half.

After Cathedral’s Jamie Greer was called for a questionable handball in the first half, North Pike was awarded a penalty kick. The Lady Jaguars’ Casey Dickerson hit a shot just to Brown’s right, where she moved over and easily snagged it.

&uot;I was worried because usually I can look at their eyes and tell where they’re going,&uot; Brown said. &uot;But she didn’t look anywhere. I wasn’t sure what to expect.&uot;

It also took the first goal of the year for Brittany Funderburg, who made her mark in the 39th minute. Cathedral’s Kate Ellard kicked the ball into the box on a corner kick, where it bounced around with no one able to take possession. Jamie Greer fired a shot on goal that was knocked back out to Funderburg. She took a shot from 20 yards out that bounced off Lady Jaguar keeper Leona Ballard’s hands into the goal.

From there, it was simply of matter of holding on for the win.

Cathedral’s playoff chances are still up in the air, but the Lady Green Wave got the win they needed to keep hope alive. Cathedral finished the district schedule with a 5-3 record, but will have to wait and see as other teams play out their final district games.