North East's Alex Hoffman continued to have success against Elkton. Hoffman scored what proved to be the game-winning goal with 20:04 remaining in regulation off a cross from Catie Roberts to lift the Indians girls soccer team to a 2-1 triumph over the visiting Elks in a first round playoff game Friday afternoon. "I just saw Catie hit it through and I happened to be there on the back post and I just took a shot," Hoffman said. "I didn't think it was going to go in but I got lucky and it went in."
It was the first lead for North East, which had surrendered an early goal. "It was super, super big," said Hoffman. "Last week when we played Elkton I scored two goals so coming out [Friday] I had a lot of pressure on me to score another goal." Hoffman's goal temporarily shifted the momentum before Elkton generated some chances in the final 10 minutes. "The later the game went, I think Elkton got more and more confident," Indians coach Matt Roberts said. "Then I think being able to get that goal gave us a little more energy and took the wind out of their them for a few minutes until they put that surge on at the end." Led by back Emma Haggerty and goalie Julianna Thompson, North East managed to blank the Elks over the last 74 minutes, 39 seconds. Margarita Contreras had staked the Elks to a 1-0 lead following a corner. After a scramble in front, North East was unable to clear the ball out of danger and it popped out to Contreras. The Indians were not fazed. "I knew we could win it back," Hoffman said. "It's kind of a bummer to have another team score on you really early, but I knew we could win it back." Said Matt Roberts: "I'm very confident in our girls and I think they kept their composure well. Elkton came out and played real hard, got the early goal. [Then] I think they sat back a bit, a little defensive-minded. I talked to our girls at halftime [about[ just being patient, working the ball, working the ball until we can open something up. I think Mia's shot to tie it up was awesome. It gave us a little more confidence and then we continued to work, continued to work until it opened up and we scored the second goal." Mia Cudmore tied it midway through the first half on a cracker from just outside the box. The ball bounced toward the middle of the field, and Cudmore turned and unleashed a rocket into the corner of the goal. It remained tied until Hoffman's goal. The win provides North East with another opportunity to play Rising Sun. The game is Tuesday, October 30, in Rising Sun at 3:30 p.m. The Tigers triumphed 2-1 in the regular season. "I am so excited," said Hoffman. "It's going to be a really, really, really hard game. Tough competition and it's always fun to play a tough competition team." "It's playoff soccer," Roberts said. "Anything can happen. I'm very confident going into the game. Rising Sun's a very good team, number one seed. But I think we're a good team and I think it should be a great, great test." Comments are closed.
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