By Staff
SPEEDSTERS Meridian's Leanna Baldner fights for possession against Clinton's Hollye Henderson.
Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Ryan Satcher/The Meridian Star
Dec. 16, 2001
Meridian got a first-half goal from Kirsten Gambrell and added two second-half goals to beat visiting Clinton 3-1 in girls soccer action on Saturday afternoon.
Meridian got good play from its young midfield to control most of the first half and had a few opportunities to score early in the game. One opportunity came when Kelly Brown dribbled deep into the Clinton penalty box but she was unable to get off a good shot and the Clinton defense cleared.
Leanna Baldner created a couple scoring chances early as she had a shot go just high and had a cross into the penalty box cleared away by the defense just in time.
Meridian was able to finish an opportunity when Gambrell kicked a free kick from just outside the box into the top right corner of the goal to make the score 1-0.
Clinton had a great chance late in the first half when Nicki Bush got loose behind the Meridian defense but her shot went over the goal and the half ended with the Lady Wildcats in the lead.
Homestanding Meridian used the good play in the first half of the second half to add two goals and build its lead. The Lady Wildcats just missed a goal when a shot by Baldner hit the crossbar and Kortney Harris shot the rebound high.
The first goal of the second half came when Harris got some open space and shot the ball into the top left corner of the goal to make the score 2-0.
Harris just missed another goal later in the second half when she got a pass from Baldner but her shot deflected off the goal post and went wide. Brown added a goal to make the score 3-0 when her shot went into the upper left corner of the net.
Clinton was able to get some offense together late in the game as a shot by Laura Mann went just high. Minutes later Clinton was able to add a late goal to break up the Meridian shutout. The goal came when the defense was unable to clear the ball out of the Meridian box. On about the third cross the ball got loose and Mallory Blackmon headed in the ball to finish out the scoring and make the final score 3-1.
The win improves Meridian's record to 8-2 on the year. They will play Petal at home on Tuesday.