FAIRMONT, W.Va. (May 24,2008)--Two goals in the final ten minutes of the first half put the West Virginia Illusion in a 2-0 halftime hole. Three goals in the final twenty minutes of the match made sure they’d stay there.
The Atlanta Silverbacks (4-0), who outshot the Illusion (0-3) 21 to 4, scored five goals for the second straight game to remain perfect in league play and got three goals from their bench.
Atlanta almost tallied in the first minute when Sarah Steinmann’s chip shot off of a rebound was denied by a kick save from West Virginia goalkeeper Megan Jessee.
Another blow was dealt the Illusion’s way when co-captain Christen Seaman was forced to exit only five minutes in due to injury.
Megan Mischler (pictured) got the first Illusion chance of the match in the 16th minute, taking a feed from Greer Barnes in a two-against-two breakaway and shooting far post, only to be denied by a fingertip save from Silverbacks goalkeeper Ashley Phillips.
The Illusion weathered the storm until a turnover in the penalty box gave Lyndsey Patterson, who had been extremely active throughout the half, an open shot, which she buried past a helpless Jessee in the 34th minute.
Krista Bobo chipped Jessee from an impossible angle from the left side in the 39th minute to double the Atlanta advantage.
Substitute Melanie Schneider made it 3-0 with a strike in the 70th minute and another sub, Attin-Maylee Johnson, finished off a rebound after a nice run in the 81st minute. Molly Franklin buried another in the 89th off an assist from Schneider.
Marisa Kanela had two shots for the Illusion. Jessee made seven saves.
The Illusion continue their season-opening five-game homestand next Saturday, May 31, when they host the Carolina RailHawks. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. at Duvall-Rosier Field in Fairmont.
ATL—Patterson 34th
ATL—Bobo 39th
ATL—Schneider 70th
ATL—Johnson 81st
ATL—Franklin 89th
Illusion Lineup: Megan Jessee, Kelsey Fowler, Christen Seaman (Bailey Bryant 5), Ashley Rees, Michelle Molinari, Shayna Varner, Kaitlin Parsons, Kendra Graber (Megan Cecchini 69), Greer Barnes (Brittany Clark 84), Marisa Kanela, Megan Mischler
Silverbacks Lineup: Ashley Phillips, Ronda Brooks, Rebecca Hau, Carolyn Ford, Tara Minnax, Lyndsey Patterson (Stephanie Smith 83), Monica Buff (Sharolta Nonen 57), Randi-Lynn Bruso (Molly Franklin 57), Krista Bobo (Melanie Schneider 66), Sarah Steinmann (Jiu Porto 75), Christine Latham (Attin-Maylee Johnson 75)
