KUA Wildcats snap losing streak with huge second half surge against St. Paul's School

The Wildcat girls gathered around their coaches, yet again feeling the heat and intensity of trying to keep the game close against the St. Paul Pelicans who beat them earlier this season 3-1.  It was a situation they've encountered several times before, fighting mightily in the first half, staying even through tough defense, and then only to let it slip away in the second half due to fatigue and lack of subs, or just plain dumb luck.  Yet, something was different this time around.  Playing tough defense simply wasn't enough anymore.  After five straight losses, they needed a win.  Somehow, they had to get more offensive ball movement.  Maybe by clearing the ball further down the field so that their forwards Aiyonna Gay and Sophie Dupeyron and their midfielders led by Audrey Underhill could burst behind the enemy line and get themselves within scoring range.  This would give them more shots on goal.  The message was clear and it resonated through the players as they gave their halftime cry with more energy than ever before.  The KUA team's mission is built on supporting one another and cultivating a positive team atmosphere no matter what happens, win or lose.  The second half of this game was like the gong of a massive bell heard loud and clear across the seasonally warm soccer fields of St. Paul's School.  The ball was launched from the KUA's defensive end again and again, and eventually into the clutches of Aiyonna Gay who drove down the right side of the field to within a couple meters of the St. Paul goal line and unleashed a shot from 7 yards away, at the smallest angle, nailing the ball into the top left corner of the goal.  It was a tenuous 1-0 score off a great goal, but the KUA girls continued to clear the ball out from their half until Sophie Dupeyron found Audrey Underhill who sprinted furiously from 50 yards out against a lone St. Paul's defender, getting close enough to uncork a hard shot from just 7 yards that bounced off the goalie and into the bottom left.  The 2-0 score was still not enough for these Wildcats.  Another cleared ball and another exciting sprint by Aiyonna Gay down the right side that led to a near replica shot into the top left corner of the goal.  The game ended in flying colors, a 3-0 win to break the long 5-game losing streak of so many close games.  The Wildcat girls look forward to their next away game against Holderness on October 30th.