Girls' Soccer

Latour Is Catalyst for the Cougars
By B.J. Koubaroulis
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, November 9, 2007; E08

Each time the clock stopped during Quince Orchard's 4-1 win over Eleanor Roosevelt in last night's 4A state semifinal at South River, the Cougars made their way toward midfielder Yvonne Latour.

The sophomore, who assisted on three of the Cougars' four goals, has become the focal point for a team going to its second consecutive state final.

Quince Orchard (16-2) will face C.M. Wright (12-3-1) in Thursday's 4A state final at Broadneck.

"She's emerged as a leader, even though she's a sophomore," said senior forward Ariel Nehemiah, who finished two of Latour's feeds to spark the come-from-behind victory. "In high-pressure situations, she steps up."

Nearly every offensive set, every set piece, six of the Cougars' nine free kicks and four of their seven corner kicks went through Latour.

"With the free kicks, I knew my team was going to get on them and I knew exactly where to place them," said Latour, who has 12 assists this season.

It was the second consecutive season that Quince Orchard defeated Eleanor Roosevelt (14-4) in the 4A state semifinals.

Maureen McMeekin controlled Latour's 35-yard free kick and dished to Sarah Moran, who connected on a shot from eight yards that tied the game at 1 in the 28th minute.

In the 48th minute, Latour fed Nehemiah (15 goals), who sneaked a sliding right-footed shot from 20 yards just inside the left post for the game-winner.

Eight minutes later, Nehemiah headed in Latour's third assist -- a corner kick -- for a 3-1 lead.
Emily D'Italia scored on a feed from Cailyn Bradley in the 70th minute to push the margin to 4-1.

Nonney Onyekweli scored the Raiders' goal after she broke free from her defender and finished from 12 yards for a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute.

Severna Park Ousted in OT

Lyndsie Ludwig's goal gave C.M. Wright a 2-1 overtime victory over No. 9 Severna Park in the other 4A state semifinal at South River.

"I looked for the far post in case I didn't make it, someone else could finish it," said Ludwig, who finished Kylie Galyen's feed with a sliding left-footed shot from 15 yards with just more than a minute left in overtime.

Ludwig's 12th goal of the season pushed the Mustangs (12-3-1) into Thursday's 4A state final at Broadneck, where they will meet Quince Orchard.

Severna Park (16-3) outshot C.M. Wright 8-5 and stymied 10 of the Mustangs' free kicks and all three of their corner kick chances. After claiming their 13th region title on Tuesday, the Falcons' winning streak was ended at 11.

Severna Park's Missy Weiss scored on a penalty kick that gave the Falcons a 1-0 lead in the 26th minute before Mustangs junior defender Alexa Carlevaro's high-arcing shot from 35 yards spun under the crossbar and dropped into the back of the goal to tie it at 1 just 30 seconds before halftime.