Heading into this season Cheney head coach Nels Radtke knew he needed some help with a young back line so he moved Katie McNair from a place she feels most comfortable, midfield, to the backfield, believing the senior is at her best offensively when she’s coming forward.
That paid off last Wednesday in Clarkston. In the 31st minute McNair possessed a ball around midfield and began dribbling towards goal, dodging Bantams defenders as she went. Just outside the 18-yard box, McNair reversed from right to left and sent a low-trajectory shot just off the ground passed the diving Clarkston goalkeeper and into the net for a 1-0 lead.
That was all Cheney needed, shutting out the Bantams for a 1-0 win in a loser-out opening round game in the Great Northern League playoffs. While the stats for shots on goal and saves were inconsistent, although Radtke said Cheney goalkeeper senior Montana Andrews had a big game, what was consistent for Radtke was how the Lady Hawks played overall.
“We’re definitely pleased with the result,” Radtke said. “I think the second half of the season we’ve been really turning a corner.”
Radtke said McNair’s shot was right where it needed to be, with the low trajectory reducing the Clarkston goalkeepers angle and chances at a stop.
“Especially against that keeper is what she (McNair) needed to do because she’s quick, so right by the post was perfect,” he added.
The Lady Hawks had a chance to increase their lead in the second half and further demoralize the third-seeded Bantams when Chae Brown was knocked to the ground hard and the center referee called a penalty kick. The kick was waived off however when the nearby linesman came in and said Brown – who got up limping – was not touched.
The win advanced Cheney (7-9) to a second round game Tuesday with league champion and sixth-ranked Pullman (15-1). Cheney has played the Greyhounds close this season, losing 2-0 at home on two, second half goals Sept. 29 and 2-1 in a shootout in the regular season finale Oct. 20.
Radtke feels his team isn’t intimidated by the Greyhounds’ record or ranking, and believes the Lady Hawks could be finally finding their groove.
“I’m confident going into it, I really am,” Radtke said. “I’m more confident than with Clarkston.”
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
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