Creekview edges to a second-round triumph
By William Bretherton
Tribune Sports Correspondent
In their first home playoff game, the third-seeded Creekview girls
soccer team beat fourth-seeded Riverwood, 2-1, in the second round
of the Class AAA state tournament Tuesday at the Grizzly Den.
"I just have to say, 'Wow!,'" Creekview coach Kerri Schmitt
said. "(We) fought hard, and I was proud of them. We gave up
a goal in the second half that we shouldn't have, but they just kept
on playing hard."
With the win, Creekview will face the lofty task of traveling to Richmond
Hill, a south Georgia powerhouse that has outscored its opposition
122-15, in Friday's state quarterfinal game.
The decisive goal of the match was scored in the 68th minute, when
Creekview's Megan Hill crossed a corner into the box that Jasmine
Fahrnbauer was able to redirect via header into the far corner for
a goal.
Riverwood followed with a goal in the 70th minute when Katie Sheline
put in a header off a free kick, but the Lady Grizzlies' defense over
the last 10 minutes was able to withstand the rally.
Though Fahrnbauer had the decisive goal, the play of the day came
in the 54th minute when Riverwood's Callie Johnson was redirected
Caitlin Gausvik's corner kick toward the top portion of the net before
Creekview goalkeeper Jessica Estes tipped the ball just high of the
crossbar.
Along with that stop, Estes made another key save in the 66th minute
when a fortuitous bounce for Riverwood allowed forward Annie Lewis
to have a 1-on-1 shot at Estes. Lewis struck a low liner towards the
far corner, but Estes cut off the angle and deflected the ball back
out to midfield.
"She had a couple of huge, huge saves," Schmitt said. "It's
funny because last year she was scared to death playing in that position,
but one year has made such a difference for her."
The positive momentum of the first half that allowed Creekview to
play more relaxed in the second half came from a goal in the 10th
minute. Creekview's Jordan Arthur lobbed a pass into the box after
a poor clearance by the defense. Riverwood goalkeeper Lora Schaffer
came out of the net to pick up the pass, but fell down to allow the
ball past. Eli Arthur picked up her younger sister's pass, dribbled
two steps and flicked the ball into the net.
"It felt really good," Eli Arthur said. "I just used
my speed to outrun everybody, and then I got lucky that the ball bounced
over the keeper. I was just there at the right time."
Against Riverwood, Creekview controlled possession throughout the
match, using its offense as a form of defense. "(Keeping possession
of the ball) was the key," Schmitt said. "We knew that if
we kept possession of the ball that they couldn't score."
Along with gaining possession, the Lady Grizzlies played many balls
to the wings, and over the top of the defense, to allow for more scoring
chances. When Creekview's forwards weren't trying to outrun defenders
for the ball on offense, they were putting pressure on defenders trying
to clear away balls.
"If your forwards can pressure the ball, then they can't cross
the ball," Schmitt said. "When you can do that, it makes
things easier when trying to keep the ball in front of us."
  
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