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11-09-2006 By ERIC AHLQVIST Editor The high-scoring junior slammed in a second half goal to lead the Milford girls soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Davenport and give the Lady Wildcats their first Section Four Class D title Saturday at the Wright National Soccer Campus. Milford, 19-1-2, will play undefeated McGraw, 19-0-1, at 11 a.m. in Chittenango on Saturday. While the state tournament will be uncharted water for Milford, McGraw is used to being one of the top teams in the state, including a Class D state title in 2004. Milford and McGraw met in the Hall of Fame Cup in Oneonta in September, and played to a 1-1 tie, with McGraw winning in a penalty kick shootout. McGraw has lost just one game in the last three seasons. They have scored 67 goals this season and allowed just seven, and have not been shut out all year. `` I would guess it would be a really good game,’’ said Milford head coach Lorin Campbell. ``They look very similar to us. Davenport hadn’t been shutout this season either until we shut them out on Saturday.’’ The progression of Milford’s defensive unit this season has been a big key to the success of the team, Campbell said. ``Something we talk about a lot is having everyone play defense, not just the five people in the back,’’ Campbell said. ``We had some new people out there at the beginning of the year, but now we’re very tight.’’ That defense was in full force Saturday, limiting Davenport to one shot on goal in the first half, and just four in the game. Milford had the ball on its end of the field for most of the first half, but could not score, and it wasn’t until the 19 minute mark that Campbell finally broke through. The goal was assisted by sophomore Emily Brigham, who passed from the middle of the field to Campbell, who blasted a high shot that glanced off the top of the crossbar and into the goal. Campbell, who has 34 goals this season, had an almost identical shot minutes earlier that missed high. ``It was a long time coming and to have Brenna score the goal is something we’ll remember forever,’’ Lorin Campbell said. ``It does make it a little more special that it was her, it’s a wonderful feeling. ’’ Davenport’s best scoring chance occurred with about five minutes remaining, when Chelsea Haight got behind Milford’s defense. But sweeper Corrine Ketzlick was able to slide in and knock the ball away, knocking Haight to the ground. Davenport fans called for a foul, but Campbell said it was a clean play. ``She got all ball,’’ he said. Milford will need another big defensive effort on Saturday against McGraw. ``Our defense is probably the strength of our team, and I know they have some special offensive players,’’ said McGraw head coach John Rutan Monday night. ``If we play our best game, and they play their best game, it should be quite a match-up.’’ |
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