Harris powers Lamar to 2-1 win
By By Tony Krausz / assistant sports editor
October 1, 2004
Striker Jasmine Harris zeroed in on the back of the net in Lamar's 2-1 win over Jackson Academy on Thursday in the opening round of the MPSA girls soccer playoffs at the Northeast Soccer Complex.
Harris tallied both of Lamar's goals in the opening half to advance the homestanding Lady Raiders (9-4) into the second round of the playoffs. The JA Lady Raiders finished their season with an 8-6 record.
"The first (goal) was a real good pass by Sumner (Brown) from the corner, I just stepped in front of the goalie," Harris said. "Jessi (Fort) had a good free kick that hit the post, and I was able to score off the rebound."
Brown set up Harris' first goal deep within JA's territory. The Lamar winger cut a crossing pass towards JA's goal from inside the goal box.
Harris stepped in front of JA's goal keeper and banged the shot into an open net for a 1-0 lead at the game's nine-minute mark.
Harris' second goal was set up by a dead-ball kick from Fort.
After JA was whistled for a foul about 25 yards in front of its net, Fort chipped the ball from the right wing off the cross bar.
Harris corralled the rebound and scored into an open net to break a one-goal tie in the 34th minute.
"(Harris) is a force up top because of her size and speed," said Lamar head coach Mary McGraw. "She is not easily pushed off the ball."
JA tied the game at one in the 11th minute, just two minutes after Harris' first goal.
Bethany Frazier scored for the visiting Lady Raiders off a free kick from the right wing. Frazier's shot, from about 35 yards out, twisted towards the center of the goal and slipped under Lamar's goal keeper's hands.
"I think they realized what they did last game, and they corrected it," said McGraw, whose team lost 3-1 to Jackson Prep last Monday after leading 1-0 late in the match. "It was a learning experience, and they fought the whole game this time."
JA threatened to tie the game again a minute into the second half.
Frazier sent another shot on goal from a free kick, but Lamar goal keeper Sarah Beth Fouts knocked the ball down and was able to grab it in front of three charging JA attackers.
"I have confidence in my goalie," McGraw said. "She has a good head on her, so I'm OK with everything she faces."
Lamar's defensive quartet of Fort (sweeper), Blair Barham (wing back), Kristin Nicholson (wing back) and Cheryl Luquire (stopper) helped keep JA's attackers at bay.
The defenders blocked numerous shots and often forced JA's strikers to the wings.
"The defense did really a good job of challenging them," said Fouts, who recorded 12 saves in the win. "Whenever the strikers were attacking, they got in front of them. When my defense got the ball, they did a really good job of getting the ball out to the midfielders who were able to push it up field."
Lamar visits Pillow Academy in Greenwood on Monday at 3 p.m.
