Published: August 26, 2008 11:36 pm         

Flying Eagles swift in win

It was a mismatch on paper.

In reality, it was worse.

Woodrow Wilson’s veteran club took full advantage of Princeton’s youth on defense, scoring twice in the first eight minutes en route to a 5-0 win in the girls soccer season opener for both teams Tuesday at the YMCA Youth Sports Complex.

The Flying Eagles returned its entire front line and midfield from last year’s 13-5-3 club. Princeton, on the other hand, graduated its entire back line.

“Our history has been that we’re a second-half team,” Woodrow coach Paulette Umberger said. “So to come out and score two goals (like that) was very good. I was impressed.”

Applying pressure from the outset, Woodrow found paydirt in the seventh minute when junior midfielder Cassie Lytton worked the ball to the right, then fired a shot over leaping Tigers goalkeeper Halie Putorek.

Maybe 45 seconds later, sophomore all-state midfielder Kayla Rodriguez drilled a shot past Putorek from 25 yards out.

Defender-midfielder Annie Yambrick, another of the Eagles’ eight junior starters, followed in the 19th minute with a blast from even farther out.

Rodriguez had the assist as the lead went to 3-0.

Throughout the opening half, Woodrow’s offense featured crisp passing and solid finishes.

“We’ve worked on two-touch plays where you touch the ball and pass it off,” Umberger said. “Everybody always had two passes to go with the ball. We did a good job tonight.”

Junior forward Aubry Trostle capped the first-half scoring with a goal from up close off a Moriah Njoku pass in the 35th minute.

“Woodrow played great. You can tell they’ve been together for a while,” Princeton first-year coach Michelle Dye said. “They’re in shape and they really hustle to the ball.”

Eagles freshman Brittany Thompson sealed the win with an unassisted goal in the 72nd minute.

Woodrow took 18 shots on goal to Princeton’s one. Tigers all-state forward Tesla Akers, forced to help out in the midfield, never got off a shot. She scored 20 goals last season, second-best in the area.

“All four of our (defenders) are new to the position,” Dye said. “We’ve moved players around quite a lot to see who works best where.

“We’ve seen what we need to work on. There’s definitely room for improvement.”

Woodrow forward Andrea Cline, returning from season-ending ACL surgery last fall, took seven shots on goal.

“Your heart goes out to Andrea. You never know whether they’ll come back from surgery like that,” Umberger said. “She spent a lot of time trying to get back.

“I’m sorry she didn’t get a goal, but she had a lot of chances and we’ll give her a lot more chances.”

Woodrow hosts Ripley at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Princeton is at home to face Mountain Mission (Va.)



Woodrow Wilson 5, Princeton 0

Goals: Woodrow: Cassie Lytton (7), Kayla Rodriguez (8), Annie Yambrick (19), Aubry Trostle (35), Brittany Thompson (72). Assists: Rodriguez, Moriah Njoku. Shots on goal: Princeton 1 (Jesse Moses), Woodrow 18 (Rodriguez 3, Lytton 1, Yambrick 2, Andrea Cline 7, Erin Bass 2, Trostle 1, Katelyn Dyke 1, Thompson 1. Keeper saves: Princeton (Halie Putorek) 12 , Woodrow (Ashley Chipps) 1. Fouls: Princeton 5, Woodrow 9. Corner shots: Princeton 0, Woodrow 12. Offsides: Princeton 1, Woodrow 1.

Records: Princeton 0-1, Woodrow 1-0.