GIrls' Soccer

Nehemiah Strikes Again for Quince Orchard
Midfielder's Goal Leaves Cougars, Wootton and Walter Johnson Tied for First
By B.J. Koubaroulis
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, October 19, 2007; E08

Quince Orchard senior midfielder Ariel Nehemiah scored her third game-winning goal of the season in the 57th minute of last night's 2-1 win at Wootton. The win forced a three-way tie atop the Montgomery County 4A standings.

Sophomore forward Ele Margelos's attempt to head in one of sophomore midfielder Yvonne Latour's corner kicks hit Nehemiah in the chest just in front of the right post.

"It was kind of weird how I got the ball, but I took advantage of it," said Nehemiah, who finished a right-footed chip shot over the goalkeeper's head for her 11th goal of the season.

The goal gave the defending Maryland West Region champion Cougars (11-2, 4-1 Montgomery 4A West) their first come-from-behind victory this season.

Ninth-ranked Wootton (9-2, 6-0 4A East) had its winning streak end at nine.

Because tournament games don't count toward playoff seeding, Wootton, Walter Johnson and Quince Orchard all have identical 9-2 records.

"Now that Wootton, Walter Johnson and us are all tied, the first tie-breakers are head-to-head, but we all beat each other, so it's a coin toss," Quince Orchard Coach Peg Keiller said. "So the three of us should have the top three seeds."

The coin toss will be decided at Monday night's tournament draw meeting.

Wootton took a 1-0 lead in the 39th minute. Sophomore midfielder Allison Yeager (seven goals, three assists) connected on an unassisted right-footed turn-around shot that squeezed under the crossbar from 25 yards. It was Wootton's only shot on goal of the half and one of only four the Cougars allowed in a bout in which the teams combined for 19 free kicks -- most of the stoppages because of physical play.

Margelos recorded her second assist and sixth of the season when she delivered a left-footed cross to the middle of the field where sophomore midfielder Kayla Clarke settled the offering and blasted a right-footed 12-yard dart to tie in the 54th minute.

"I saw Ele running and she was flat with me and I asked for the ball," said Clarke, who took three of the Cougars' eight shots on goal. "It really got the momentum going. Before that we were playing their game, playing long balls and running and that's not our game. After that, we got into passing well."

Quince Orchard 2 No. 9 Wootton 1 Duncan Out: Wootton was without senior captain and defender Katie Duncan (four goals, two assists), who missed her third consecutive game with an injured right ankle. Harper Saves: Wootton senior goalkeeper Sarah Harper recorded six saves, giving her 35 this season.