Taft’s JV Girls took on Hopkins at home on a warm but windy Saturday afternoon. The first half was a fractured affair for both teams with players struggling to find their passes. However, a long deep cross midway through the half was bravely met by Clarisse Moucha who managed to bundle the ball into the net to put the home team ahead. Taft had numerous opportunities on the break in the minutes that followed, but were called back for offside on each occasion. The half ended 1-0 to Taft. Taft had a better second half and, with the wind at their back, controlled the game for the most part. Moucha was a constant early threat, and followed two excellent runs down the wing with shots that caused concern to the Hopkins’ defense. Moucha was a menace yet again just moments later, but on this occasion instead of shooting, she found Lane Childs in the box. Childs, who worked tirelessly all game, expertly placed the ball beyond the grasp of the goalie to put Taft two up. From there on the Taft defense of Evangeline Webb, Madison Kirkland, Dylan Carver, Jane Hempel, Caroline Bernard, Libby Vermylen, Jasset Millhiser, and Emma Weitzel kept the Hopkins’ attack at bay. Likewise, the attacking input of Ellie Taylor, Liv Samuelson, Bella Kembar, Erin Arole, Anavi Angst, Emma Bernard, Karina Thomas, Cece Chatterjee, and Vivian Peterson started to find more consistent passing patterns that, with some more time together, will surely pay dividends in future matches. Thomas, for example, made several excellent through-ball opportunities for her teammates, while an expert Millhiser flick late on caused panic in the Hopkins’ backline when Moucha, again, threatened out wide. In another notable play, Kembar tracked back tenaciously to help out her defense, won the ball back, then brought it upfield from deep in her half and found her forwards with a clinical pass. In truth, though, every Taft player made some kind of valuable input on the day and it was a true team effort that saw the home side record their second victory of the season. Goalies Nika Yemets and Mary Kidd Lindsey were always a reassuring presence in goal, and special mention to injured players Coco O'Brien and Charlotte van Ert who the team hopes to welcome back soon. All in all, the coaches were very proud of the drive and fight of the team. Go Taft!