Girls' Soccer

Girls' Soccer
Tie Keeps Spalding's Streak Going
Spalding 1, Pallotti 1
By B.J. Koubaroulis

Special to The Washington Post

Wednesday, September 26, 2007; Page E05

Second-ranked Spalding didn't get the win yesterday at Pallotti, but the Cavaliers didn't lose, either. Hence, what has become known as "the streak" at Spalding remains intact.

A 1-1 tie at Pallotti pushed

Spalding's unbeaten mark to

48 consecutive games.

Since losing to O'Connell, 2-0, in September 2005, the Cavaliers (9-0-1, 2-0-1 IAAM) have posted a 43-0-5 record and have outscored opponents 145-13. Spalding compiled 18 wins before defeating Pallotti (5-0-2, 2-0-2), 1-0, in last season's IAAM A division championship game and showed yesterday it is still an offensive machine by outshooting the Panthers 20-9.

Spalding's offense, which is averaging 3.9 goals per game, is led by forwards Christine Nairn (Penn State), a senior, and junior Erica Page.

Nairn, an All-Met and U.S. under-17 women's national team member, this season has 16 goals and five assists. She has 59 goals and 29 assists for her career, both school records.
Nairn connected on a left-footed penalty kick in the 62nd minute to force the tie and save the streak.

"I think [the streak] is in the back of our minds all the time," Nairn said. "We are taking each game as it is and playing our hearts out, and if the streak stays alive, then good for us. But if it doesn't, oh well."

Page, who has added 10 goals this season, is second on the school's all-time scoring list with 31. The tandem has combined for 25 game-winning goals.

"Every team is going to bring it against you, so you have to bring it every game," said Page, whose offense has attempted 57 corners and allowed opponents 12 this season.

All-Met goalkeeper Karen Blocker has recorded 28 of her career 360 saves and nine of her 49 career shutouts this season. Both are school records.

"You never forget the feeling of a goal. Especially a" penalty kick, said Blocker, who relinquished Spalding's first goal of the season when Pallotti's Jackie Henahan converted a penalty kick in the 53rd minute. "I'm so proud of my team for rallying back and not putting their head down. It's always disappointing not to get the win, but we came back strong and got the tie."