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Lady vipers still in hunt

Memorial makes two penalty shot goals hold up in win against first place Judson

Memorial's Taylor Blackman aggressively attacks the ball as she brings the action close to the goal in the first half with the Vipers leading 2-0 over San Antonio Judson on Tuesday.

Memorial's Taylor Blackman aggressively attacks the ball as she brings the action close to the goal in the first half with the Vipers leading 2-0 over San Antonio Judson on Tuesday.

John Hornberg

Originally published March 9, 2010 at 11:39 p.m., updated March 9, 2010 at 11:50 p.m.

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FRANK TILLEY/Advocate Photo Editor

Memorial's Rachel Warren battles for control of the ball with Taylor Bradshaw from Judson. The Lady Vipers were battling for a playoff spot Tuesday night at Memorial Stadium.

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FRANK TILLEY/Advocate Photo Editor

Above: Memorial's Taylor Blackman aggressively attacks the ball as she brings the action close to the goal in the first half with the Vipers leading 2-0 over San Antonio Judson on Tuesday. At right: Memorial goalie Kierra Brown turns her back to the other end of the field, as a teammate lines up a penalty kick, which both of Memorial's goals in the first half.

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Lady Vipers next game -2010-03-09 23:42:00

Lady Vipers next game at San Antonio East Central, 7 p.m., Friday Fans lament split of team Reactions were mixed about the end of the season. Although happy to see the girls play as well as they have, many are disappointed to see the team split. Gloria Reagan, whose daughter, junior Taylor Blackman, plays for the Lady Vipers, said she was sad about the end of the team. Her daughter will be at Victoria West next season. "These girls have been playing together since they were freshman," she said."My daughter was freshman and played on varsity. ... I hate that they are splitting them up. I know they have to do it some year, but I wish it was after my daughter graduated." Teresa Cortines, mother of junior player Rae Cortines, said she's been to every Lady Vipers game this season, said the fan support was high for the game. Her daughter will be a senior at Victoria East next year, and she said the splitting of the team is going to be hard on the players. "It's very hard for them, because the players are separating," she said. "They've played together since they were little, not just since high school. And they talk about it a lot, but it's something they are going to have to get used to, because there's no moving across town." - John Hornberg

It wasn't a district title, but the win still merited a water-cooler shower for Denys McCarter from her players.

"I saw it coming, and I couldn't figure out what else to do, so I said I might as well just take the shower," said the drenched Memorial soccer coach. "But I knew that was something they wanted to do.

"It was all in good fun."

The Lady Vipers, in their final home game, made two first-half goals on penalty shots barely a minute apart hold up against first-place Converse Judson, 2-1, on Tuesday night. The win sets up a showdown in the final game of the season in San Antonio against East Central, which beat San Antonio Wagner 5-1, for the final playoff spot in the District 27-5A.

"This was a momentum builder. We're excited to win this game, we're a very young team and it gives them the confidence they need to take out the No. 1 team in the district," McCarter said.

Memorial's two goals came on penalty shots awarded to Jessica Mickey and Cassie Lane a little more than a minute apart in the first half.

"They got aggressive, we went to the ball and did everything we were supposed to," McCarter said. "It was a huge way to finish, using that free opportunity to find the back of the net, and I think that's what allowed us to have that little bit of cushion going into the second half."

Added Jessica Mickey: "I was real nervous, but I picked a corner and aimed."

Goalkeeper Keirra Brown maintained a shutout through most of the game, only allowing one goal and stifling several of Judson's breakaway attempts.

"I had to stay calm and hold my ground and be ready for anything," she said.

The game plan is to replicate the same style of play from Tuesday's game against East Central, McCarter said. The Lady Vipers tied with East Central in Victoria in mid-Febuary.

"Hopefully we come in with this intensity, this desire, this heart," she said. "If we can come in with that much, I think we can take it. This was a great way to end the final year of Memorial."

Brown said she's prepared for Friday's showdown at East Central.

"East Central's not a threat," she said. "I know we're going to beat them."

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