Coralee Freitag and Maya Rutland netted first half goals to lead Kendall to a 2-0 girls soccer victory under the lights over Holley at Jurh’s Field to improve to 6-0 and the top seed in Class C2.
The Eagles used ball control throughout and had a pair of scoring chances before breaking through.
Maya Rutland moved down the left wing before her attempt was tipped wide by Holley goalkeeper Madison Papaj, who finished with seven saves.
Six minutes later, Taylor ReQua crossed a pass from the right corner to Jenna Losapio, but her shot was saved.
Kendall finally broke up the scoreless tie in the 37th minute. ReQua sent a hard pass up the middle to Freitag, whose shot found the left side of the net for her third goal of the season and a 1-0 Eagles lead.
They made it 2-0 with the clock counting down the final seconds of the first half. Julia Smith sent a long head-man pass up the middle to a streaking Maya Rutland, whose shot was ruled to have crossed the goal-line just prior to the first half horn for her team-leading seventh goal of the campaign.
Papaj kept the game close for the Hawks with a two-save sequence in the 68th minute stopping first Smith on a 25 yard attempt and then making a diving stop as Rutland tried to put in the rebound.
Kendall allowed just one goal over the first six games of the season using a diamond-four defensive system with seniors Smith and Amelia Patrick, junior Elizabeth Rath and sophomore Lyndsay Wright limiting opportunities in front of senior goalkeeper Jenna Jacob, who registered her fifth shutout of the season.
“We have high hopes, so yes I thought we were capable of a successful season,” head coach Pam Beres said when asked about the 6-0 start.
“Our “D” is solid, steady and doesn’t get rattled and they support our midfield, who couldn’t support the attack the way they do without them. We made a few positional changes with players back there that have worked out very well.”
A key game is October 1 at Alexander, who is challenging for the top spot, and the Eagles finish the regular season with three consecutive road games after senior night October 5 against Attica.
