Dallas,Tx (6/20/2010) The score was 1-0 but should have been more. The Dallas Premier and Ft Worth faced off at UTD Saturday night before a near capacity “NTSSA NIGHT” crowd with everything on the line for the Premier. Ft Worth came into the match undefeated and sitting atop the Big Sky South Division with 9 points. Dallas is facing virtual elimination just about every game for the rest of  the league season with a 1-1-1 record and 4 points.

 

Any kind of tie or loss for the Premier in the game would mean doom. The Premier wouldn’t accept losing and controlled the game from the first whistle. Unfortunately, the whistle would be the only thing to stop the Premier. A referee crew that appeared to have just arrived from South Africa World Cup nullified goal after goal for the Premier on suspect calls or no calls. It wasn’t until the 65 minute that a ball from 40 yards out off the foot of D Melinda ‘Bullet’ Carter that squeezed under the bar and fell into the net off the back of the Ft Worth Goalie, that the referees couldn’t find anything wrong. The crowd cheered but for a few brief seconds the Premier players and coaches looked stunned not sure that the goal would stand. But it stood and that meant doom for Ft Worth because the Premier defense, as it has all season, was playing superbly. No goals was going to be the defensive objective on this night. This was the second straight game the defense would shut out its opponent. Defensive player of the game Jessica Maxwell anchored this tough nosed group that included Allie Rogosheske and Alicia Marshall on the outside and Ashley Rape in the middle with Maxwell. Carter was rotated in by head coach Brian Flanagan at strategic times and his plan worked to a T when Carter’s long ball found the net. The lack of scoring on this night didn’t seem as bad as the forwards lead this night by Offensive Player of the game Brittany Slyman for the Premier seem to be working things out and flowed much better together with this talented group as they continue to get to know not only each other better but also Flanagans offensive scheme. Heather Hutyra, Erin Scott, and Princess Haley are all capable of scoring multi goal games. Caitlin McDowell has moved into the center midfield and controlled things in a great way. Outside wings flowing with the offense are Kendall Juett , Kat Brenneman, and Kelsey Perlman, who was close to having a career night except for some bad luck and bad whistles. “When this offense finally gets in sync with each other and starts finding the net, we will be unbeatable,” chuckled Flanagan. In the mean time the defense for the Premier will just have to continue its stingy ways. The defenders aren’t just stopping goals they are consistently creating opportunities offensively with well placed long balls out of the back, especially outside defenders Carter and Marshall. Flanagan’s offensive scheme though is one where everyone is expected to contribute. All things being equal though the most amazing play might have come from unheralded GK Haley Corbell who has been superb in the net for Goalie coach Will Searls. Corbell in the 87th minute negated a tieing goal when diving to her right, using all 5’ 10” of her frame, she deflected a deflected ball just wide of the far post.