Latest 10 Entries
Below are the ten most recent blog items. Visit the blogsite for older entries and more viewing options.
September 03, 2011 - posted by Coach Keiller
Yvonne Latour (QO '10) Scores in SMCM Win
http://www.smcmathletics.com/sports/wsoc/2011-12/releases/20110902alhe1h
June 07, 2011 - posted by Coach Keiller
TRYOUTS ARE APPROACHING!
Tryouts for the fall of 2011 will begin on August 13. All players must have submitted an up-to-date physical and parent/student permission form before being able to step on the field. Please email Coach Keiller for more information.
QOsoccer@comcast.net
November 07, 2010 - posted by LLL
New photos posted
Pictures of the senior night game against Northwest and the South Hagerstown playoff games are posted.
November 03, 2010 - posted by Coach Keiller
Cougars Move on to Region Semifinals
The #4 seed QO girls' soccer team advanced to the Maryland 3A West Region semifinals with a 3-1 penalty kick decision over the visiting Clarksburg Coyotes. Neither team was able to find the back of the net in the run of play, as regulation and two overtimes ended 0-0.
Though clearly not playing their best soccer, the Cougars still managed to create several quality scoring opportunities. In the first half, junior forward Jessica Konecke broke free on the left, and smashed a left-footed shot off the crossbar. Senior Sami Slonim was in perfect position to follow, but her header attempt was also denied by the pipe. A few minutes later, junior midfielder Allie Solomon broke through the middle but her attempt went just high. In the second half, Konecke again had the better of the Cougar's chances, but hit one shot just wide and forced the Clarksburg GK into a save. The save of the game, however, belonged to QO's junior goalkeeper Gabby Paolini. Though the QO defense had made it difficult for the Coyotes to have many quality chances at goal, they conceded a foul in the box to set up a penalty kick for Clarksburg with about 12 minutes remaining in the match. The shot went towards the left side netting, but Paolini dove the right way, covered a lot of ground, and pushed the ball wide to keep the Cougars alive.
Regulation ended 0-0, as did both overtimes, sending the match to be decided by penalty kicks. Clarksburg shot first, and this time was able to get the ball past Paolini to take a 1-0 lead. Freshman midfielder Mary McMeekin channeled her sister Maureen's 2007 PK magic and safetly put the ball away to tie the shootout at 1-1. In the 2nd round, Paolini made a diving save to her left to deny the Clarksburg attempt. Junior defender Morgan Dorset then calmly nailed her shot to put the Cougars up 2-1. In the 3rd round, the Clarksburg player put her shot neatly into the top right corner, and Paolini didn't move. While the Coyotes celebrated, Paolini explained to the referee that he hadn't blown the whistle to start the shot. The Clarksburg player had to return to the spot, and this time went to the upper right, where the ball nicked off the crossbar and went safetly out of play. Sophomore forward Lauren Holdsworth then stepped up to the spot and put her shot into the back of the net to push the Cougar lead to 3-1. The pressure was on the Coyotes, as they had to make their 4th shot to force a 5th round, or even a 4th kick by QO. But Paolini had other plans, saving the kick and sending the Cougars into celebration. Paolini finished with 5 saves on the night, including saving 3 of 4 penalty kicks that Clarkburg put on goal.
The Region Semifinals will be held 3:00 pm on Thursday, Nov. 4th at host and #1 seed Damascus High School. During the regular season, the Cougars overcame an early goal in a hard-fought match to defeat the Hornets, 3-1, in a game that essentially clinched the division title for QO. The Hornets will enter as favorites at 12-2-1.
October 30, 2010 - posted by Coach Keiller
QO Defeats South Hagerstown to Move on to Quarterfinals
On a chilly Saturday morning, the Quince Orchard girls' soccer team opened up the 2010 playoff campaign with a first round win over visiting South Hagerstown, 5-0.
Shannon Dwyer, in her second game back from a 5-week injury, opened up the scoring in the 9th minute. Timing her run through the back line, Dwyer receive a ball from fellow senior Sami Slonim, calmly advanced toward goal, and slotted the ball to the left corner. After several good opportunities, the Cougars added to the tally in the 27th minute. Following South Hagerstown's one shot of the game, a save by Gabby Paolini, and a resulting corner kick, Kelly Whiteis sent a long clearance over midfield just beyond a waiting Jessica Konecke. Konecke outpaced her defender and finished with a solid left footed shot into the right corner. QO went into the half up 2-0.
In the second half, QO cleaned up their game a bit and enjoyed more long stretches of possession. The Cougars made the possession count in the 60th minute, when Whiteis delivered a ball into the middle of the box to a waiting Maddie Crow. Crow took one touch in the air and with composure, knocked the ball into the net for her first goal of her QO career (congrats MADDIE!). QO added to the tally in the 64th minute, when Allie Solomon delivered one of her many excellent balls into the box. Mary McMeekin jumped high to head the ball just over the advancing SH goalkeeper. The Cougars closed out the scoring in the 65th minute. On her 4th corner kick of the game, Morgan Dorset sent her typical dangerous ball into the middle of the box. Dwyer made an excellent run at goal, jumping in front of the GK, just unable to reach the ball. However, in the confusion of Dwyer's run, the GK was unable to collect the ball and knocked it into her own net.
The Cougars move on the 3A West Quarterfinals. They will host Clarksburg on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 4 PM. During division play on Sept. 24, QO defeated Clarksburg 2-1 in overtime, after being under 2 minutes from losing the game in regulation. This sets up what should be a well-played and hard-fought rematch.
October 26, 2010 - posted by LLL
More photos!
The players look like pros in some of these shots.
Watkins Mill
Wootton
Seneca Valley
Enjoy!
October 26, 2010 - posted by Coach Keiller
Playoff Draw is Out
QO has earned the 4th seed in the Maryland 3A West Region. They will open up playoffs by hosting South Hagerstown in a first round match Saturday, October 30, at 10 am. The link to the complete 3A bracket is below.
http://www.mpssaa.org/assets/fallsports/girlssoccer/3A%20GSOC%2010.pdf
October 12, 2010 - posted by Coach Keiller
Cougars pull upset with help from an unlikely source
Quince Orchard knocks off previously unbeaten Damascus 3-1
by Joey Sabet Special to The Gazette
Coming into Monday's game against Quince Orchard, the Damascus girls soccer team won its first eight games of the season by a combined margin of 47-2.
However, without perhaps its biggest impact player in Shannon Dwyer due to injury, the Cougars didn't panic despite an early goal from Damascus and rallied for two second half goals, one from a freshman, for the 3-1 upset.
Quince Orchard (5-4 overall, 4-0 Montgomery 3A) isn't used to being the underdog, but after graduating a solid senior class and despite coming in with a deceptive 4-4 record, it was no secret who the favorite was on this night.
"We've been really concentrating on mental toughness because we have a young, inexperienced team," said QO head coach Peg Keiller. "The kids just pulled through tonight."
Just after an early chance went awry for Damascus (8-1, 4-1 3A), in the second minute Erin Gaughan sent in her second dangerous cross in as many minutes, only this time Mary Hunkeler was able to reach it and guide it past Gabby Paolini for the early 1-0 lead.
Keeping up the pressure early, the Hornets had several chances to add to its lead, the best coming in the 11th minute when Meggy Kreysa made a sensation run and got a solid strike on net, but Paolini was just able to swat it away for a spectacular save.
"I think we've gotten better each game, and we really played well tonight," said Paolini.
Late in the first half QO began to sustain some pressure in the final third, breaking through after a Damascus turnover and Lauren Holdsworth made a great pass to fellow sophomore Kelly Whiteis who rocketed it near-post upper 90 in the 35th minute to tie the game.
A young squad regardless, QO got its game winner from a freshman who plays "maybe 10-15 minutes a game" according to Keiller.
In the 58th minute, a beautiful long ball was guided on target by Jess Konecke; after the initial save by Allison Gardner, Vida Branco nailed the uncontested opportunistic tap-in goal to give the Cougars the lead.
"I just remembered 120 percent in the box, and just put my foot out there," Branco said.
Freshman Danielle Fernandez nearly tied it in the 64th minute on a perfectly-placed free kick that went over the wall and over Paolini's head, but just kissed the crossbar.
The ball was loose in the box for what seemed like an eternity, but Paolini made another great diving stop on Kat Leiby's point-blank strike on what would be the last great chance for the Hornets on the night.
Konecke scored on a play similar to the Branco goal in the 70th minute, with Mary McMeekin on the initial shot, and Damascus was unable to create any chances to threaten the two-goal deficit.
"I think they out-hustled us and definitely wanted it more," said Damascus head coach Katie Roberts. "We weren't doing things that made us successful in the past...This is definitely an obstacle we're going to overcome."
October 08, 2010 - posted by LLL
New photos posted
Second installment from Becky. Some really fantastic shots of the ladies. Enjoy.
October 08, 2010 - posted by Coach Keiller
QO Topples WM, Stays in the Hunt for Division
On a chilly Wednesday evening in Montgomery Village, the Cougars extended their division record to 3-0 with a 2-0 win over Watkins Mill. Freshman midfielder Mary McMeekin notched the first two goals of her QO career. Both assists came from sophomore Isabelle Latour, who had moved up to the front line to get things moving. Senior Sami Slonim tried her hand at yet another position, filling in nicely in the center midfield. Centerbacks Morgan Dorset and Kelly Whiteis, flanked by combinations of Kayla Hamedi, Chandler Holdsworth, Madeline Korol, and Grace Toohey, helped lead the Cougars to their second straight shut-out. Junior GK Kelsey O'Connor saw her first action of year, keeping all WM shots out of the net. The game was also a chance for junior forward Allie Solomon to see her first action since spraining her ankle, and she lent a spark to the offense with her displays of skill and speed.
The Cougars are in action again on Monday, October 11th at Damascus, who is 10-0, 4-0 in the division.
