Girls Soccer News

May 12, 2008

SOCCER CAMPS

New incoming freshmen who are interested in attending one or both summer camps--Freshman Camp (May 27-30) and/or SUU Soccer Camp (June 23-27)--should contact Coach Ngo as soon as possible to get the forms. Email jngo@judgememorial.com or call 801-671-0620.

Posted by Jim Ngo at 11:47pm | Link

April 22, 2008

SUU SOCCER CAMP FORMS DUE MAY 1

If you have not received a form, please get one from Mrs. Mayeda. The cost is $235 and payment (payable to Jim Ngo) must be mailed with the form to:

Jim Ngo
1567 South 1300 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84105

Posted by Jim Ngo at 4:05pm | Link

March 26, 2008

NEW DATES FOR FRESHMAN CAMP

To accomodate any players who may be competing in the Utah State Cup Tournament we have moved the dates of Freshman Camp. The camp will now be held from May 27 - 30. The location has also changed to allow for repairs at McCarthey Field.

Judge Girls Soccer Freshman Camp

• Dates: May 27 - 30
• Time: 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM
• Location: Canyon Rim Academy, 3005 S. 2900 E., Salt Lake City

If you signed up for girls soccer at the freshman open house then you will be receiving a registration form by the second week of April. If you did not sign up or did not come to the open house then please email Coach Ngo (jngo@judgememorial.com) to get a registration form.

Posted by Jim Ngo at 12:03pm | Link

December 13, 2007

SALT LAKE TRIBUNE ALL-STATE

Congratulations to these Judge girls who were selected to the All-State team by the Salt Lake Tribune:

3A All State MVP Maddy Cartwright, Junior, Forward

First Team

• Corinne Davies - Senior, Midfielder
• Natalie Warner - Freshman, Goalkeeper

Second Team

• Alex May - Senior, Outside Back
• Carly Bartel - Junior, Midfielder
• Kiersten Berg - Sophomore, Forward

Posted by Jim Ngo at 12:48pm | Link

November 23, 2007

CINDERELLA WEARS RED AND GOLD

by Judge Assistant Coach Ken Fall

Early in September the Judge Memorial Catholic High School Girl’s Soccer team unveiled it’s 2007 warm-up jerseys before a game against Region 10 foe Waterford. Each shirt displayed the numerals 10-20. Why 10-20? The players knew why. Motivation for a hopeful showdown weeks away - on October 20. The date of the 3A Utah State Championship Final. The jerseys were designed by the Bulldog’s senior captains, three of whom played the last time Judge was in a State Championship final, back in 2004.

The jerseys were of little inspiration against Waterford, as Judge lost their sixth game of the season. After a 1-6 start, the dream of a state title seemed light years away. Senior forward Jenna Sliwinski, the team’s 2nd leading scorer in 2006 went out for the entire season in Game 1 with a broken collarbone. Other projected starters had opted out of the season to play with their club teams. The Bulldogs were struggling under a new coach, a new system and a new problem. How to return to the winning ways of a team that in 19 previous years had never known a losing season?

The Bulldogs are coached by first year manager Jim Ngo. Ngo had been a long-time assistant to Wayne Voorhes, the wise guide who’d steered the Lady Bulldogs to two state titles. But Ngo preached a new gospel, one that elevated ball movement and possession. The adjustment was difficult. But by the time October rolled around, improvements were showing and faith in the new way was growing. "We didn't get down on ourselves because we knew we were getting better," Ngo said. Playing in Region 10 toughened the Dawgs for playoff style soccer. Judge scored a big victory over rival Park City, and beat Waterford in the second match between the two.

Still they managed only a fourth place finish in the region, squeaking into the playoffs with a 6-9-1 record. Only one other team in 3A earned a playoff berth with a worse regular season record. If they hoped to be playing on October 20 Judge faced a daunting task. But the players believed all along they were much better than the record suggested. And they continued to remind each other of their reputation - the team others hate to play. According to defender Laura Becker, “When we want to win, we will win. Because it’s in our hearts…because we’re Judge.”

First up was Region 11 powerhouse Logan. Sophomore forwards Tess Burick and Kiersten Berg combined on a dramatic breakaway late in the game, earning Berg (the Bulldog’s top scorer) her first playoff goal. Freshman goalkeeper Natalie Warner, with the help of senior defenders Alex May and Susie Bonn, notched the first of what would remarkably become three playoff shutouts. A 1-0 road upset and Cinderella had a date to the next dance. Traveling to Cedar City for the second round Judge dispatched Canyon View with a convincing 2-0 victory. Freshman Gabbie Matinkhah and senior captain Corinne Davies scored.

But did anyone really expect the Bulldogs to make it to the finals? Next up was number one ranked and pre-tourney favorite Wasatch in the semi-finals. Judge had been thoroughly outplayed by the Wasps early in the season, and Wasatch won it’s first two playoff games by a combined 8 to 1 total. But the date was October 19th, and as we know the warm-ups weren’t embroidered with 10-19. The Lady Bulldogs were still a day away from destiny. Rallying from a 1-0 halftime deficit Judge stunned Wasatch. The defense stiffened, with great efforts from junior Sadie Young and senior Simone Olive. Forward Maddy Cartwright broke through the Wasatch back line for one goal and Davies got the dramatic game winner from 28 yards out.

The stage was set for Cinderella’s big moment. It came, of course, on October 20 against arch rival Juan Diego - the third number 1 seed Judge defeated on it’s incredible run. The golden slipper was a perfect fit for the right foot of Cartwright who, with a long chip over the Juan Diego keeper, gave the Bulldogs the win after 76 minutes of scoreless soccer. In the words of captain Bonn, “All season 35 girls gave everything, every day, every practice for that goal. And all 35 get credit for that goal.”

“We needed to prove to ourselves, to our coaches and to everybody that doubted us that we could win the title.” Cartwright claimed. When the final buzzer sounded the Lady Bulldogs had completed the most improbable championship run in recent memory, dubbed by fans the Miracle on Turf. “It felt like a dream,” said Davies. “Nobody thought we could win, except us,” said Kathryn Martinez. “People told us not to get our hopes up,” remarked Kelly Frappier, “But we didn’t listen.” "It's incredible,” Goalie Natalie Warner said. “To come from down low, up to this high is the coolest thing ever."

As the only playoff team to end the season with a win - the Lady Bulldogs had, fittingly, played 20 games on the season – winning exactly 10 of them. On 10-20-2007 Cinderella wore red and gold.

Posted by Ken Fall at 11:04am | Link

November 14, 2007

ALL-REGION TEAM SELECTIONS

The Region 10 coaches named the following Judge players to the All-Region team:

• Corinne Davies, First Team
• Maddy Cartwright, First Team
• Alex May, Second Team
• Kelsey Lockwood, Second Team

Congratulations girls!

Posted by Jim Ngo at 11:53am | Link

November 12, 2007

DESERET NEWS ALL STATE

The Deseret Morning News selected the following players to the All-State Team:

• Corinne Davies - First Team
• Maddy Cartwright - First Team
• Natalie Warner - First Team
• Alex May - Second Team
• Kiersten Berg - Second Team
• Carly Bartel - Honorable Mention

Congratulations Girls!

Posted by Jim Ngo at 12:06pm | Link

October 22, 2007

STATE CHAMPIONS

You guys made it your goal to get to the Championship. You put it on your "10-20" t-shirt. Then you went out and did it, as a TEAM.

Good work! I'm proud of all of you girls!

Posted by Jim Ngo at 10:19am | Link

October 13, 2007

SENIORS AND FRESHMEN LEAD BULLDOGS TO STATE SEMI-FINALS WITH 2-0 WIN

When Senior Co-Captains Corinne Davies and Alex May were freshman on the 2004 Bulldog team that played in the State Championship match with Park City, they got a taste of the thrill that comes with playing on State Finals weekend. In a few days Davies and May will taste it again. And this time they planning on winning it all.

Davies, May and their fellow seniors led a composed Judge squad to a 2-0 win against the Falcons of Canyon View Saturday afternoon in Cedar City. It was the second road win and shutout in the tournament for the Bulldogs. Davies was in a familiar spot midway thru the first half when - after putting together a nice combination play with fellow senior Laura Becker - she found herself with the ball on her right foot 22 yards from goal and the chance to get off a clean shot. Like many times before Corinne didn’t disappoint.

At that point the Falcons were lucky they weren’t down a few goals as the Bulldogs had been filling up the stat sheet with shots ever since the first minute of play. With a tactical adjustment by the Judge coaching staff which opened up space in the attacking lanes (and the insertion of Becker in at the left-midfield spot) things got even more fluid for the Bulldog offense - leading to that first goal. The defense was doing their part by denying the Falcons quality opportunities led primarily by the tough play of May. The first half ended with Judge dominating possession and shots yet still only up a goal.

The second half saw even more attacking play by Judge aided by a steady wind at the Bulldog’s backs. More chances came with nearly everyone getting into the act. Carly Bartel and Kelsey Lockwood continued their strong midfield play. Kelly Frappier sent a pretty cross in from the right flank, and then minutes later almost notched a score when her shot from in tight skidded past the right post. Becker and Kathryn Martinez kept up the pressure from the outside-mid slots. Kiersten Berg and Maddy Cartwright also had strong games up top…with a questionable offside call taking away a Cartwright goal.

But the real story was how the Bulldog defense wouldn’t allow the Falcons to get anything going. In the second half Davies slid back to the stopper position as she’d done the game before. Her intelligent, poised play kept the ball safely out of harm’s way. Fine defensive performances were also turned in by Sadie Young, senior Susie Bonn and freshman Ellen Sliwinski. And on the few occasions when the ball got to the Judge box, Natalie Warner was there to scoop things up as the freshman keeper recorded her second playoff shutout.

One more freshman got on the books as Gabbie Matinkhah smartly placed one in the back of the net on a ball sent across the box by Alexis Martinez in the 59th minute. Judge’s confident play gave Coach Jim Ngo a chance to find some well-deserved playing time for several younger Bulldogs, who one expects will get a few more chances in the future to appear in these October playoffs.

In the meantime, Corinne Davies, Alex May and their fellow seniors get their second shot at a State Championship game if they get past top-seeded Wasatch in the semi-finals 5:00pm Friday in Woods Cross.

Posted by Ken Fall at 11:35pm | Link

October 10, 2007

BULLDOGS OVERCOME FEAR OF GRIZZLIES IN 1-0 PLAYOFF THRILLER

Survival guides tell you the key to staying alive against a mean, scary grizzly is to act timid and play dead. But on a perfect October afternoon, in a picturesque setting in the shadows of the Wasatch Mountains, the Judge Memorial Lady Bulldogs were the ones on the attack, surviving the first round of the playoffs with a stunning upset of the nasty Grizzlies of Logan High 1-0.

The Judge girls knew the road to Championship weekend would not be an easy one. After falling to fourth with a Region 10 loss to Park City, JM was facing road games starting with this one. But if there was a silver lining, it’s that Logan plays on an artificial turf much like the Bulldogs’ home.

In the early minutes of this match the Bulldogs didn’t look at all comfortable with the turf, showing signs of nervousness and anxiety with occasional sloppy play. But Logan couldn’t capitalize on JM’s early jitters, and as the minutes wore on the Bulldogs began building confidence and stretched the game in their favor with poised midfield play. Juniors Carly Bartel and Kelsey Lockwood led the way, while defender Alex May frustrated Logan’s tall and skillful forward, the high-scoring Cami Jensen. Jensen and her teammates had a few excellent chances in the first half, but were turned away by keeper Natalie Warner.

By the time ten minutes had passed in half two, the play was getting rougher and the temperature on the pitch feverish. The Grizzlies began living up to their nasty billing, with Bartel and forward Tess Burick getting the worse of it. But the Lady Bulldogs were not backing down, and seemed to get stronger, faster and bolder with every passing minute. The final 30 minutes had Judge getting several attempts off corners, including a sweet header from Alex May – sailing over the crossbar. Kiersten Berg with a textbook cutback move, drilled a left-footed drive off the keeper, leading to another corner. Maddy Cartwright continued her aggressive play mostly from the left side, wreaking havoc on the weakening Logan defense. On the other end, the Bulldogs were using exceptional team defense to keep the opponent at bay, with different players filling different needs, chief among them seniors May, Olive, Bonn, Martinez, Becker, Davies, with lots of help from Sadie Young and Ellen Sliwinski. But the game came down to impressive individual efforts in the final five minutes which sent the Bulldogs on to the next round.

With the Grizzlies on the counterattack a swift Logan play into space to a streaking Jensen looked like the deadly set-up the Bulldogs feared. But freshman keeper Warner didn't hesitate for a second and charged hard to the ball from the north, while Jensen closed at top speed from the south. What looked like a sure one-on-one breakaway was suddenly a footrace - and if lost by Warner meant an open dance to the goal. Both players met the ball simultaneously with Warner getting all of her strong right foot behind it. As she tumbled head over heels, scrambling to get back in the box...the ball sailed near midfield ending the Grizzlies best chance to grab the lead.

Not a minute later the game turned. Warner, following another save, punted the ball to midfield where it was poorly played by two Logan defenders. Kiersten Berg was off at full speed as the ball floated to second forward Burick who perfectly headed the ball past three defenders. This footrace between striker and goalie went Judge's way again. Berg poked home the game winner with a defender on her back and the goalie in her face. The large Judge fan contingent rose to their feet and stayed there for the remaining four minutes, applauding the Bulldog's first playoff victory in two years.

The win means the Lady Bulldogs travel again for Saturday's game against Region 9's second place team Canyon View...a 3-0 winner against North Sanpete.

Posted by Ken Fall at 11:11pm | Link