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Carolina Elite Cobras News Release - www.carolinaelitecobras.com
Sunday, May 18, 2014
DAYTON, Ohio – The Carolina Elite Cobras kicked off their 2014 season with a win after defeating the Dayton Dutch Lions 4-0 in Dayton, Ohio on Sunday.
"I am extremely proud of our team today," Cobras Head Coach Sandy Burris said. "It took us 20 minutes or so to settle down but we finally started finding our rhythm about 30 minutes in and from that point we never looked back."
The Cobras started their goal-scoring campaign in the 45th minute when defender Blakely Mattern chipped a ball behind the Dutch Lion defensive line, where forward India Trotter finished it past Dutch Lion goalkeeper Ayanna Parker.
This late first half goal took the Cobras into halftime ahead of the Dutch Lions, 1-0.
"The midfield really controlled most of the game by playing to feet and keeping possession of the ball," Burris said. "This allowed us to attack from the flanks and through the middle."
The Cobras kicked it up a notch in the second half scoring their second goal of the match in the 76th minute after rookie defender, Kailey Mattison, led the attacking play from the Cobras back line sending the ball up to midfielder Savannah McCaskill, who beat her defender and put in the back of the net, giving the Cobras a 2-0 lead.
"The back line consisted of four new players and a new goalkeeper, who all only had a few training sessions, and they were all outstanding," Burris said.
The Cobras continued to add to the win just three minutes later when Mattern and Trotter connected again in the 79th minute and Trotter was able to beat her defender and put it in the side netting to make it 3-0 to the Cobras.
"Overall I was very happy," Burris said. "India, Savannah, and Steph [DeVita] did exactly what I expected them to do and I think they were a handful for the Dayton defense."
The Cobras' win was sealed in the 90th minute when midfielder Cassandra Wilcox gathered a mishit ball and found an open Allie Johns at the top of the box. Johns' goal left the final score 4-0 to the Cobras when the final whistle blew just minutes later, giving new Cobras goalkeeper, Jamie Walker, her first shutout of the season.
"Dayton is a good team and they were missing a handful of players, so I expect for them to rebound quickly when we see them again later on in the season," Burris said.
The Cobras will face the Atlanta Silverbacks next in Atlanta at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, May 30. The Dutch Lions will host the Charlotte Lady Eagles (1-0-0) at home on Sunday, May 25 at 4:30 p.m. and again on Monday, May 26 at 1 p.m.