Notre Dame Prep coach Mark Deaton said the Pirates are coming together as a team. Archbishop Spalding probably won't argue that point.
Ann Damon scored two goals to help No. 14 Notre Dame Prep extend its shutout streak to three with a 4-0 decision over No. 11 Archbishop Spalding in a Catholic League A Division game yesterday.
Notre Dame Prep has outscored opponents, 20-2, this season, including 16 in a row without allowing a goal. North Carroll scored the first goal of its game with the Pirates, but Notre Dame Prep scored the next five. The Pirates then blanked No. 6 St. Mary's (3-0) and Towson (4-0).
The host Pirates kept everything going yesterday. They kept pressure on the Cavaliers, using a combination of their speed and good transition decisions to make pinpoint passes that created scoring chances.
"We penetrated really well to the corners," Damon said. "We came in today knowing knowing it was a really difficult [game]. We threw our best at them right away."
The penetrating and passing made the difference. Crosses or good passes set up all four goals, three of which came in the first 30 minutes as Notre Dame Prep (5-0, 2-0) took a 3-0 halftime lead.
Freshman Amy Alecci scored early, taking a nice pass from Kim Singleton and scoring just 4 minutes, 50 seconds into the game for a quick goal that seemed to rob Spalding (4-2, 1-1) of some spirit.
Emily Knapp got the first of her two assists about seven minutes later, making a good pass to Jill Matusky, who rolled a long shot just inside the far post for a 2-0 lead. Damon made it 3-0, taking another Knapp pass and blasting a shot off the hands of Spalding goalie Yasmine Alter from 10 yards away with 10 minutes left.
Singleton got her second assist on the game's final goal. Damon redirected a perfect cross.
Other games
Seton Keough 1, No. 12 Catholic 0: Johnna Fellows scored the game's lone goal in the second half as the Gators (2-2, 1-2 Catholic League) upset defending Catholic League A Division champ Catholic (0-3-2, 0-2-1).
Mount de Sales 3, No. 6 St. Mary's 2: Cori Christiansen, Katrina Zelenka and Courtney Smith scored as the Sailors (1-2, 1-2) upset the Saints (2-4, 0-2) in a Catholic League A Division game.
Pub Date: 9/16/98