The Patriots lost 5-1 to the visiting Freeport Falcons in their final game of the season. It was a shortened game and an unexpected earlier start due to dangerously cold temperatures. Despite the weather, the game was a great battle and more even than the score shows.
The Patriots didn’t look quite ready to play when the kickoff happened. They were quickly on their heels defending the Falcons’ attacks. Three minutes into the game the Falcons took the lead when they scored on a nice shot from the top of the eighteen, just out of Ivy Abrams’ reach. A minute later they doubled their lead when a miscommunication by the Patriots saw the ball go to a Falcon’s player in the box when an open goal to shoot on.
After the first eight minutes the Patriots began to settle in. They began controlling the ball in the midfield, winning many battles, and sending it up the wings. Though they were getting into the attacking end more and more frequently, the Patriots were unable to get a shot off to challenge the keeper.
With only seconds remaining in the first half, the Falcons were able to score again after a breakaway saw the attacker take down two Patriots’ defenders as she passed the ball to her teammate, forcing Ivy to come out of her goal to try and stop the close range shot.
The second half saw more attacking pressure from the Patriots, even getting some great opportunities on net. The Falcons struck earlier again in this half, scoring when an unmarked player ran behind the defense on a free kick and redirected the ball before Ivy could get to it. They would score their final goal of the game with just over seven minutes left.
The Patriots never gave up fighting though, looking more and more threatening as the game went on. They finally broke through with just over three minutes left when a great pass saw Ashleen Perkins get in behind the defense. Her shot was saved by the keeper, but Ellie Schlichting was there to punch it in and score her fifth goal of the season. The Patriots end their season with a 5-5 record.