Written by Marlon Scott
Clarksville, TN – The Clarksville Academy Lady Cougars failed to generate much offense and lost at home to Nashville’s Hume Fogg High Lady Blue Knights, 0-4.
“We did not play our best today,” Clarksville Academy head coach Beth Burchett said. “They are a really good team, but we did not come out wanting to win this game.”
The Hume Fogg Lady Blue Knights attempted 10 of a total 17 shots on goal in the first half. Conversely, the Clarksville Lady Cougars attempted only 3 shots on goal the entire game.
Hume Fogg Lady Blue Knight Carys Graves led the team with 2 goals. Graves scored the first goal of the game in the second minute with an assist from Rainey Webber. Hume Fogg’s second goal was scored by Mattie Crenshaw in the 13th minute. Crenshaw attempted a shot on goal out of a crowd in front of the goal that was successfully defended.
However, she intercepted the ensuing short kick from the Lady Cougar’s goalkeeper, Hannah Holt, and kicked the ball in the net for the Lady Blue Knights second score.
Crenshaw’s effort was one of many examples how the Hume Fogg’s Lady Blue Knights forwards were beating Clarksville Academy’s back line to the ball, staying aggressive throughout the game.
In the 23rd minute of the first half, Hume Fogg Lady Blue Knight, McKenzie Peebles, weaved through several Clarksville Academy Lady Cougar defenders and then put the ball in the back of the net for the Lady Blue Knights third goal. The Clarksville Academy Lady Cougars front line were hard pressed to generate any offense. The few pushes they made consisted of a lone forward chasing a long pass without support and being easily turned away by Hume Fogg’s backline.
The Lady Cougars only shot on goal in the first half was their closest opportunity to score in the game.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Abby Martin dashed down the sideline and sent a speeding cross straight for the front of the goal.
Clarksville Academy Lady Cougar, Angel McDowell, went for the cross along with Hume’ Fogg’s Goalkeeper, Lucy Crenshaw. Crenshaw dove for the ball, but missed. While she was still down McDowell attempted a shot, but another Lady Blue Knight was able to step in and deflect it.
Down 3-0 at halftime coach Burchett told her team, “It’s 3-0 and we have to start off this half with a lot more intensity. We couldn’t be complacent and I expected a better team out of them.”
It looked as if the Clarksville Academy Lady Cougars took their coaches advice when Martin broke free from her defender and took a shot on goal in the 5th minute of the second half. However, Crenshaw made the save and afterwards the Lady Cougars found themselves back on the defensive, struggling to keep the ball out of their side of the field.
The Hume Fogg Lady Blue Knights scored their last goal in the 27th minute of the second half. Stephanie Brown kicked a sharp assist to Graves, who knocked in a header for her second goal.
“I know that our team can play better than they did tonight. It was a disappointing game,“ Burchett said. “We had a few players that stepped up at moments, but for 80 minutes we did not play a very good game.”
