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Press Releases
Spring 2005 Press Releases
Courage Wins Final Tournament of U12 Campaign, Add 5 for U13
 
Saturday - Sunday, June 25-26, 2005.  Playing shorthanded and facing the pressure of playing up in the U13 age bracket, the Courage added another trophy to its mantle by winning the championship of the BRYC Al Dougherty Memorial tournament with a 3-0 championship game win over the Loudoun Fury. The Courage got on the board late in the first half when Ana Clements knocked in a ball from 25 yards out.  In the second half, Kathleen Smith notched her second and third goals of the tournament to seal the win. 
 
After the game, Coach Ged Wood announced the addition of Jane Aman, Maria Creamer, Tess Jarriel, Kate McDonald, and Kathleen Smith to the Courage for next season.  Welcome to all the new girls!!
Courage Performs Well in 2-0 State Cup Loss to Azul
Saturday, June 4, 2005.  The Courage again showed it is one of the top teams in Virginia in a hard fought 2-0 loss to the BRYC Azul in State Cup semi-final action.  The game's first ten minutes had the Azul going on the attack.  However, the Courage methodically overcame each Azul effort and the last 20 minutes of the first half were played evenly resulting in a 0-0 halftime score.
 
The Azul got on the board 5 minutes into the second half when a BRYC striker sent a bouncing ball just out of the reach of the Courage goaltender into the lower left corner of the goal.  The score remained 1-0 and the remainder of the game was evenly played.  The Azul got a clinching goal with less than five minutes left to produce the 2-0 final.

Courage Sweeps Weekend Games

 

Saturday and Sunday, May 21-22, 2005.  The Courage took two this past weekend thrusting them into a tie for second place in WAGS Division 2.  On Saturday, the Courage met the feisty Damascus Storm and came away with a 2-0 win.  In the first half, Stephanie Burns buried a ball in the back of the net for the Courage's first goal. Jordan Walker added another in the second half off a Campbell Millar corner kick. The Courage defense never allowed a serious threat.

 

On Sunday, Kelly Abt's three goals led the Courage to a 5-0 win over physical FC Frederick. Using good ball movement and superior speed, the Courage first struck on Abt's goal 15 minutes into the contest. Abt struck again 10 minutes before the half.  Stephanie Burns added a goal 5 minutes into the second half followed by Campbell Millar's strike halfway through.  Abt completed her hat trick with five minutes left in the contest. The Courage defense was typically stingy as  Lizzy Belair, Meredith Doherty, and Caitie Simpson kept FC Frederick at bay all day.

Golden Goal Sends Courage to State Cup Semifinals!! 

Saturday, May 14, 2005.  a tough game with the VA CASL Elite, the Courage prevailed in the first overtime on a Golden Goal by Jordan Walker.  On a hot Virginia day in Richmond, the game was hard fought with the Courage having many shots on goal but none finding their mark in regulation. Marissa Gitler's wicked shot toward the end of the second half just missed its mark, striking the left post.  During the first overtime period, Campbell Millar struck a corner kick to the middle of the box.  Stephanie Burns touched the ball to Jordan Walker who put a quick end to the game. 
By making this year's semifinals, the Courage will automatically receive a top 4 seed in next year's State Cup.  The Courage face the Braddock Road Azul on June 4 in the State Cup semi-finals.
Courage Breeze Through State Cup Round of 16
 
Saturday, May 7, 2005.  The Courage advanced to the Virginia State Cup Quarterfinals with a dominant 4-0 performance against the SWYA Magic.  Anna Clements started the show with a powerful shot past the Magic goalkeeper.  Stephanie Burns, Marissa Gitler, and Kelly Abt also found the back of the net.  The Courage defense again was dominant rarely allowing the Magic to cross into their territory.  The Courage now face the VA CASL Elite next weekend.
Courage Post First Round State Cup Win
 
Saturday, April 23, 2005.  The McLean MPS Courage started out their state cup run in fine fashion posting a 1-0 victory over the VA Rush Swoosh Blue from Virginia Beach.  The Courage dominated the play and went up 1-0 on a first half goal by Andrea Dudney.  From there, the Courage's stifling defense took over sealing the win.
 
 
Courage Dominate 9-0 in Third Win of WAGS Season
 
Sunday, April 24, 2005.  The U12 MPS Courage showed again that they are one of the premier teams in WAGS with a 9-0 victory over the CSA Fury.  Allison Ancell and Christina Popps each posted a hat trick, while Jordan Walker, Carly Hafner and Ana Clements combined for three more. 

Courage Champions in Power-Packed Dulles Premier Division

 

The MPS Courage, a WAGS U12 soccer team, took on a power-packed lineup and won the Premier Division of the Dulles National Soccer Tournament. The Courage opened the tournament with a 1-1 draw against the Loudoun Explosion.  Then by identical scores of 2-0, the Courage took down the Herndon Blaze and Manassas Spirit.  Needing to win and hold their final opponent scoreless to claim the championship, the Courage beat the Bethesda Riptide 2-0 to bring home
the Champions trophies.

MPS Courage Win Second Game of the Season, Now 2-0

The McLean Courage, a U11 Division II WAGS girls soccer team, upped their record to 2 - 0 with a victory over the Herndon Blaze on Sunday, April 18, 2004. Christina Popps scored the winning goal for the Courage in the middle of the second half after the two teams had battled with neither team able to score throughout most of the game. Popps' goal came with about fifteen minutes remaining in the game. The Courage's stinging defense was lead by Campbell Millar, Lizzy Belair and Meredith Doherty.

Courage Win First Game of the Season

Bowie, MD, September 7, 2003. The McLean MPS Courage, a U11 WAGS soccer team, opened its season Sunday by defeating the Freestate Blue Toads 3-0. Courage is coached by Bob Belair and Mark Doherty. Carly Hafner began the scoring for the Courage after receiving a cross from Leigh Hamilton inside the box and deftly placing it into the right half of the goal. Hafner then assisted on the next goal, scored by Elle Silverman, putting the Courage up 2-0. Christina Popps tallied the final goal on a break-away giving the McLean team a 3-0 victory. Meredith Doherty had one save for Courage on the only shot by the Blue Toads.

Courage Notch Second Win

McLean, VA, September 27, 2003. The McLean Courage, a U-11 WAGS soccer team, notched their second win of the season this past Saturday with a 9-0 victory over the PWSI Pulse. Courage is coached by Bob Belair and Mark Doherty. The first half was all Courage as Leigh Hamilton, Caitie Simpson, Elle Silverman, and Christina Popps all found the back of the net. Courage players assisting on these goals were, Andrea Dudney, Katie Grasso, Elena Rosenblum and Jordan Walker. Coupled with this strong Courage attack was an equally stinging defense led by Lizzy Belair, Campbell Millar, Meredith Doherty and Allison Ancell. The second half was even more productive than the first with Courage tallying five more goals by Carly Hafner, Brianna Thompson and Leigh Hamilton who scored three. Hamilton's four goals for the game are the most ever by a Courage player. Kate Murphy was excellent in goal for the Courage recording the shutout.

Courage Defeats Wildthings

McLean, VA, October 4, 2003. The McLean MPS Courage, a U-11 WAGS soccer team, defeated the Severna Park Wildthings on Saurday 3-1. The victory was the third for the McLean team. Courage dominated throughout the entire game taking eighteeen shots and converting three. The Courage goals were by Meredith Doherty with an assist by Christina Popps, Leigh Hamilton assisted by Popps and Elle Silverman whose goal came on a long penalty kick. The Courage also fought to a 0-0 tie with the Vienna Stars on Sunday.

Courage Compete in Prestigious WAGS Tournament

Quantico, VA, October 11-12, 2003. The McLean MPS Courage, a U-11WAGS soccer team, recently competed in the 28th Rael Vodicka WAGS Memorial Tournament. The Courage won their first game against the top ranked Ewing Express from New Jersey, 1-0. Christina Popps scored the game winner for the Courage on a breakaway. The Courage's next two games were heartbreakers falling to the Pennridge Stingers 1-0 on a late second half goal and the GSA Phoenix Red 2-1. Jordan Walker assisted by Andrea Dudney tallied the lone Courage goal in the Phoenix Red game.

MPS Courage Tally Fourth Win of the Season

Columbia, MD, October 19, 2003. The McLean MPS Courage tallied its fourth win of the season defeating the CSC Fury 4-0. The Courage is a U-11 WAGS soccer team coached by Bob Belair and Mark Doherety.

The Courage came out firing and scored early in the first period when Elle Silverman juggled the ball on the sideline and then dribbled in to take a long shot which entered the left side of the net. Brianna Thompson got into the scoring column next by putting a frozen rope into the back of the net after receiving a pass from Campbell Millar that made the score 2-0. Finishing out the Courage scoring for the first half was a close-in shot by Christina Popps who settled the ball before rifling it past the Fury keeper. Popps' goal was made possible by an accurate crossing pass from Leigh Hamilton.

The Fury threatened throughout the game but was held in check by a stiff Courage defense led by Caitie Simpson, Lizzie Belair, Andrea Dudney, Allie Ancell, Katie Grasso, Elena Rosenblum and Meredith Doherety. The final Courage goal came late in the second half when Jordan Walker slipped passed her defender and nailed the one-on-one shot to complete the scoring. Carly Hafner provided the assist on Walker's goal. Kate Murphy was fantastic in goal for the Courage, recording the shutout.