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Last Updated: Oct 27th, 2008 - 09:26:14 |
The Lady Corsairs are getting hot at an opportune time.
After struggling through much of the pre-conference schedule, the College of the Redwoods women have stepped up the level of their play dramatically over the past two weeks, and are now 2-1-1 in their past four games.
And that leaves them well in contention for a Golden Valley Conference championship with five games remaining on the schedule.
On Tuesday, the Corsairs rallied for a dramatic 2-1 victory over Feather River, with late goals from Breon Hole and Rikki Tonkin keeping them in contention for a possible conference title.
“It was a great finish,” CR head coach Lyle Wilks said.
Perhaps more impressively, it came against a Feather River team that had defeated the Corsairs 7-1 two weeks earlier.
Key to the CR turnaround have been some switches in the lineup, most notably moving sophomore standout Stephanie DeMarzi back to sweeper, and the continually improving play of midfielder Amanda Hassler.
Former McKinleyville High player Ryann Weaver also has done a solid job in goal since switching recently from the outfield.
“The biggest difference was moving DeMarzi back to sweeper,” Wilks said.
Since then, the Corsairs have tied Mendocino - also a team that defeated them heavily the first time around - beat Shasta, lost to Butte and knocked off Feather River.
One big problem the team must overcome if it is to claim a conference crown, however, is its road woes, where they have yet to win this season.
“For some reason we just play a lot better at home,” Wilks said. “(Against FR) we played really well in the first half and we came out really flat in the second half. Then, all of a sudden, we get a goal and that changes everything, the whole attitude.”
DeMarzi suffered a foot injury in the win, but is expected back in the lineup for Tuesday’s trip to Shasta, one of three away contests remaining on the schedule.
The Corsairs also must play Butte home and away, travel to Feather River and host Shasta.
“We’re still in the hunt,” Wilks said. “But we’ve got to show we can play on the road and stay healthy. We can’t afford to lose any key players at this stage.”
After Tuesday’s Shasta trip, the Lady Corsairs return home to play Butte the following Tuesday in a night game at Community Stadium.
A league championship also would guarantee the Corsairs a first-ever postseason appearance.
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