Cheltenham does it all in win over Norristown
WEST NORRITON >> Cheltenham put together a dominant performance in Monday night’s 6-0 win over Norristown at Norristown Area High School.
The Panthers (2-1) maintained possession for a majority of the game and put 30 shots on goal. Six different players scored in the win.
“(The offense) brought it tonight for sure,” Cheltenham coach Leah Matusow said. “Something we’ve been talking about a lot is finishing. We’re getting the shots. Tonight we finished and it was a beautiful thing to see. A lot of good one-two passes, good connections and it was nice to finally put the ball in the net.”
“I think we connected pass really well,” Cheltenham’s Amelia Fishman said. “We just put them together and that’s what got us all of our goals. I think we just worked really well together.”
The first goal came in the sixth minute. Lily Crocker sent a cross into the middle of the field and it deflected off of Lola Jahhs. Taden Versaw-Barnes was there to grab the deflection and deposit it into the goal.
Cheltenham’s lead doubled in the 29th minute. Mimi Williamson took a free kick from just outside the 18. Her cross went to the far post, where Versaw-Barnes headed it to the middle of the field. Jahhs finished to make it a 2-0 Panthers lead.
Fishman finished off the scoring for the first half with a 38th-minute goal. Versaw-Barnes sent a corner kick into the box. Fishman eventually gathered the loose ball and lifted it over the keeper to make it a 3-0 game.
In the second half, Cheltenham had two defensive players score – captains Kayla Brockington and Sophie Peck. Brockington made it 4-0 in the 54th minute when she hit the post, gathered her rebound and found the back of the net. Peck raced down the sideline, dribbled around the keeper, and scored to make it 6-0 in the 86th minute.
“They don’t get too many opportunities (to score),” Matusow said. “When they’re there they try to finish, which is great. They’ve been amazing and fantastic leaders and we’re proud to have them as our captains.”
Maya Schwartz also scored in the second half for Cheltenham. Her 62nd-minute penalty kick made it a 5-0 game.
“Everyone is capable,” Fishman said of six different girls scoring. “I think everyone on this team has a great foot. It’s just how we get it off. I think everyone on our team is doing a great job.”
The Panthers defense wasn’t tested often, but made the plays necessary to record a second consecutive shutout. Brockington, Peck, Kennedy Williams and Malena Vila were among defenders who made smart plays throughout the night to keep the ball out of harm’s way.
“We have a dominant defense,” Matusow said. “Our captains Sophie Peck and Kayla Brockington do an outstanding job back there. They’re leaders from start to finish. They lead in the back and it’s nice girls come off the bench and bring the same intensity. It was a complete game, which was really nice.”
Goalkeeper Claudia Morales was busy for Norristown (0-3). She stopped 24 shots to keep the game from getting even more lopsided.
Cheltenham 6, Norristown 0
Cheltenham 3 3 – 6
Norristown 0 0 – 0
Goals: C: Taden Versaw-Barnes, Lola Jahss, Amelia Fishman, Kayla Brockington, Maya Schwartz, Sophie Peck.
Saves: C: Rohan McInneshin 1. N: Claudia Morales 24.
