The Chuckey-Doak soccer team could not take advantage of the opportunities it had in front of its own goal, while giving away too many chances on the defensive end. The result was a 4-1 loss to Elizabethton on Tuesday night.
“I don’t know how we didn’t score, we had so many shots. We had so many chances to score, and good shots, we just couldn’t find the back of the net. It was just a weird night,” Chuckey-Doak coach Anna Ricker said.
In the early going on Tuesday Chuckey-Doak kept the pressure on the Lady Cyclones with Caitlin Larsen, Lindsey Rojas and Betsie Ramirez all getting good looks at the goal, but none of their shots found the back of the net.
Through the first 20 minutes Chuckey-Doak out shot Elizabethton 7-2.
Then in the 21st minute the game got away from the Lady Black Knights. It started when Elizabethton was awarded a corner kick that Chuckey-Doak successfully cleared away.
The Lady Black Knights lost possession out of bounds while transitioning and the defense was caught out of position on a throw in to Ella Nave. Nave quickly got ahead of the backline and while facing no resistance slotted home a goal from the middle of the box.
Things got worse for Chuckey-Doak on the restart. Caitlin Larsen played the ball back to her midfield, but a mishit sending it forward gave the ball to the Lady Cyclones with everyone in black out of position. Nave quickly charged into the box from the right side and powered a shot into the side netting for a 2-0 lead just seconds after the first goal.
“We were out of position on both of those goals. We just have to communicate better and get in position quicker. We have to be ready before they are taking a shot,” Ricker said.
In the 36th minute Elizabethton’s lead grew to 3-0. The Lady Black Knights stopped the first shot, but Aubry Szabo found an opening on the rebound fired it into the net.
Late in the half Larsen tried to create goals for the Lady Black Knights and sped by the backline on a pair of solo runs, but both times keeper Addie Tyler stepped in just in time.
Larsen was able to get Chuckey-Doak on the board in the 39th minute. The Lady Black Knights were awarded a free kick from 40 yards away. She sent the ball high and just under the crossbar to close the gap to 3-1 at halftime.
Chuckey-Doak continued to find chances on the offensive end in the second half but could not dent Elizabethton’s lead.
In the 47th Ramirez beat the defense and created a chance in the box, but the keeper tipped her shot over the frame.
In the 51st minute Larsen made a great run and good last touch, but a collision with the keeper softened the shot just enough for it to roll wide.
More shots followed from Khloe Knight, Kati Surber and Brianne Brown, but nothing challenged the keeper.
“We had chances, we just didn’t put them in. Was there a force field on the goal? I don’t what it was. We had way more chances than them, but they capitalized on their chances,” Ricker said.
In the 77th minute Nave completed her hat trick when she took in a cross from the right side and pinned it inside the right post.
Chuckey-Doak will be back in action on Thursday against Volunteer.
