BRUNSWICK – Kassidy Scarponi, Paige Tetu and Lyse Henshaw scored in the first 20 minutes, and Brunswick went on to shut out Mt. Ararat 4-0 in an Eastern Class A girls’ soccer game Saturday.

The Dragons (3-0) dominated from the start, using their frontline speed to get past the defense for a number of chances.

Anna Cowan of Brunswick had a pair of early opportunities, but keeper Michelle Pelletier saved both.

“We changed our positions the day before,” said Cowan. “We used three strikers because we knew they would use three midfielders.

“It was important to get the lead early. A lot of the girls were stressed out because it’s a rivalry game, and we all know each other and are friends.”

The first goal came at 4:05 after Rachel Maroney sent Scarponi in on a breakaway. Pelletier came well out and blocked Scarponi’s first shot, but Scarponi then got the rebound and lifted it into the open net.

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Haley Murano grabbed a Libby Ouellette header at the opposite end. Just over a minute later, Madeline Cowan passed to Scarponi in the deep right corner and Scarponi sent a shot into the crease.

Pelletier punched it out, but Tetu was right there to score on the rebound on the left at 9:17.

After Anna Cowan shot high on a clear breakaway, Brunswick converted a Tetu corner kick from the right. Tetu sent the ball to the far post, where an unmarked Henshaw had plenty of net to make it 3-0 at 18:22.

“We worked on our passing game with three strikers,’ said Dragons Coach Martyn Davison. “They all have speed and they were able to get behind the defense.

“Three goals in 20 minutes is a great start. The girls were apprehensive because we have a long winning streak in rivalry games and we know it will end sometime.”

Play was more even the rest of the way.

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Anna Cowan closed the scoring at 8:17 of the second half, taking a throw-in from Maroney and getting past two defenders before beating goalie Lauren Williams.

“Brunswick played a good game,” said Coach Sam Chard of Mt. Ararat (2-1). “We came out slow and stayed slow, and they took it to us. On a different day, who knows, but we were way off in every aspect.

“We need to improve our mentality and confidence, and feel that we can beat them.”

 


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