Rowland Hall walks away with runner-up finish

The Rowland Hall-St. Marks girls soccer team had a successful 2006 soccer season. The Winged Lions came away with a runner-up finish. They developed younger players, and they established themselves as a team that will compete for a title year-in and year-out in the 2A classification.

"I am very proud of our team," said coach Bobby Kennedy following the title game loss to Waterford. "The girls worked really hard, and they played for 80 minutes."

Kennedy may have been talking about the specific game, but he also could have been referring to every game Rowland Hall played. The Winged Lions worked hard in every contest. They competed and pushed teams that could have blown them out, and even beat teams that they should have been an underdog. The team had four wins against 3A schools in Morgan, North Sanpete, Grantsville and Delta, and tied another in Tooele.

In the team's six losses, it was not from a lack of effort. Two came against 4A teams, three times to Waterford, and the only other loss to a 2A team came at Millard, a loss that the team avenged when it mattered most in the semifinals.

"It was good year for us," Kennedy added. "I don't think that we have anything to be ashamed about. Finishing second was a great accomplishment."

The team played tactically sound soccer to make up for any inadequacies in the athletic department. A controlled passing game that used the flanks and built up an attack rather than just kicking the ball long worked to perfection.

"We don't have the athletes to just run," said Kennedy. "We are a team that likes to knock the ball around a bit, think our way around the field. We are a real cerebral bunch that uses our heads to play good soccer."

A by-product of all the passing was the fact that many players got involved in the offense. Natasha Woolley, Victoria Heagy and Lauren Babcock all tied for the team lead with 11 goals on the season, and Jennifer Van Wagner was not far behind at nine tallies. Four other players scored at least three times on the year.

Alexandra Jacobs and Sarah Snedaker were the centerpieces of a defense that gave up just over two and a half goals per game. A number that doesn't sound all that remarkable until considering the competition. Rowland Hall held Waterford to only four goals in the finals, and held the Ravens scoreless for a half, the only time it happened to the team all year. When the defense had any lapses, Eleanor Marker proved herself to be a good goalkeeper.