RVA Featured Girls Game - Cosby at Deep Run

<p>Two of the best girls teams Richmond has to offer collided last Friday when the Cosby Titans visited the Deep Run Wildcats in a much anticipated matchup.</p>   <p>It was a windy night, and almost too cold for what my PrepSoccer hoodie could handle, but we were ready for this clash of the Titans (and Wildcats).</p>   <p>Cosby (6-2-0) came in on a 3-game win streak after early losses to James River and Midlothian. Deep Run (5-1-0) was riding a 5-game win streak. This "Friday Night Lights" matchup would have a big impact at the top of the region 6a table, and both squads wanted to show that they were up to the challenge, as they may meet again in the playoffs.</p>   <p>The first half started and the crowd could immediately tell this would be a physical one with strong tackles, tactical fouls, and a lot of broken up plays in the midfield. [player_tooltip player_id='27910' first='Monique' last='R McEnhimer'] started to put her stamp on the game in the 16th minute, pressing the Cosby back line to win the ball and putting her first shot on goal.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/g_CKJ581RDM?si=3Fi_d6m_Fyp0v20M </div></figure>   <p>The rest of the first half was hard fought, without any other big chances. Deep Run enjoyed the bulk of the possession and was the better squad, but had yet to break through with a goal.</p>   <p>I am not sure what Cosby coach Madisen Powell said to her team at halftime, but it worked. The Titans came out of the break with much more energy and purpose, creating a better chance than they had the entire first half in the first 2 minutes of the second.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/ts3rGxwynQU?si=JJQgow6kcS0YPcr7 </div></figure>   <p>With that chance in the 42nd minute, [player_tooltip player_id='140779' first='Kendall' last='Funk'] scored the first goal of the game! That beautiful pass just over the CB and in front of the GK came off the foot of recent Illinois commit, [player_tooltip player_id='140781' first='Corinne' last='Jenkins']. Up until this point, Deep Run had done a good job keeping the always dangerous Funk contained. One chance for Cosby, one goal.</p>   <p>The Wildcats wasted no time hunting for an equalizer. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/JxxZlXO-4T0?si=Ley1clWHHrhcXNgG </div></figure>   <p>Just 2 minutes later, McEnhimer created some space on the wing and played a great ball across the six that bounced around a bit before being put over the top for a goal kick.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/hmUEyXTaJ1A?si=y1_9eS85DfPvdbOH </div></figure>   <p>In the 46th, Catherine Muir won a ball in the attacking third, and we see that same combination of Jenkins to Funk. This time, Kendall missed wide. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/WKX39MQmvic?si=xKWfctsiwMvUazrm </div></figure>   <p>The next big play happened in the 53rd minute. Sophomore Tori Gauch received the ball in the midfield and played a through ball that she knew only McEnhimer could get to. Monique beat the defender, shot, beat the keeper... and Molly Muir made an incredible goal line clearance to keep the lead for the Titans... for the moment. Gauch hustled to the sideline to win the ball back and got it to McEnhimer. This is where McEnhimer shows another trait that makes her special. She had been thwarted multiple times by this stingy Titan defense to this point. Did she put her face into her hands? Look up to the sky for help? Nope. She found the ball again, made a move and buried a shot into the top right corner. Tie game. 25 minutes to go. Nobody is cold anymore. This is getting FUN.</p>   <p>From the 55th minute to the 80th, we got to watch a back and forth, physical brand of soccer. No big chances, but you could cut the tension with a knife, a real playoff atmosphere. Appeals for fouls and cards echoed from the stands on every tackle, trying to get a last minute free kick chance for their respective teams. None happened. We were headed for some good old VA high school OT. Two five minute periods, no break in between, no golden goal.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/EdlIQv1XPJw?si=38JV11nRKX76y-3v </div></figure>   <p>The Titans got on it right away in OT. Sasha Manheim played an inch perfect ball to the back post from a free kick 40+ yards out. She found [player_tooltip player_id='140779' first='Kendall' last='Funk'], again, who connected on a header, but is unable to put enough power on it to get it past the Deep Run keeper. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/rbg5ezgJQmM?si=Ri3EEjClaw-up8We </div></figure>   <p>A minute later, with energy from I do not know where, McEnhimer carried a ball 45 yards into the Cosby box and found an open Tori Gauch, who peeled off of her defender to find space. Gauch put the shot just wide.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/rOFW_cJIB9c?si=mjyGq6kKJxEj6I0a </div></figure>   <p>On the right wing this time, McEnhimer found some space and cut across some Cosby defenders. She put a good shot on target with her left foot, but it was saved by Kendall Paulus! </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/UPU32Qky7AY?si=UTMqlWTOwrS11Ehr </div></figure>   <p>Just before the end of the first 5 minutes of OT, Lila Gibellato won a ball in the attacking third. She found [player_tooltip player_id='170045' first='Sophia' last='Calisto'], who picked her head up and got the ball to [player_tooltip player_id='171236' first='Audrey' last='Simpkins'] for an open shot. Simpkins hit a shot that was also dealt with very well by Paulus. </p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/phc60AzU3GM?si=zwufpSrvin9XQgwV </div></figure>   <p>After the teams switched sides, McEnhimer found some space with the ball again. She accelerated past a Titan defender and hit another strong shot with her left. This one flew just outside the post.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://youtu.be/4LSIwBL_uFQ?si=kfJnfMzGs_VMEWmN </div></figure>   <p>Remember in the girls region 6a preview when I mentioned that Cosby CB Abigail Holmes makes really important tackles in really big moments, and seems to have ice in her veins while doing it? Well, nothing different here, just a left footed slide tackle to clear the ball in the final 30 seconds of a tie game against one of the other best teams in Richmond, that's all. </p>   <p>That is how it ended. 1-1. Two exhausted teams. Two coaches who I am sure lost their voices for weekend. A great battle that we may get to see again in warmer weather a few months from now. </p>   <p>So, who stood out in this battle of top teams in RVA?</p>   <p>On the Deep Run side, coach Chapman has 4 great sophomores that played very well. In a midfield that included all-state selections on the other side, [player_tooltip player_id='170045' first='Sophia' last='Calisto'] really rose to the challenge and looked like she belonged, with a great work rate, patience, and clever passing. [player_tooltip player_id='164462' first='Mackenzie' last='Vanags'] also played very well, cutting out Cosby attacks and connecting with her teammates up the field. Tori Gauch helped put some pressure on the Cosby defense and likely scores at least one on a different night with this type of effort.</p>   <p>The POTM (Player of the Match) has to go to [player_tooltip player_id='27910' first='Monique' last='R McEnhimer']. Constantly putting defenders under pressure and gliding past them, seemingly at will. Her display of quickness and ability to dribble and shoot with both feet was on full display this evening. She was not going to be denied a goal in this matchup. Probably deserved a second.</p>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepsoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2024/04/E4A2F185-7A73-4B89-A931-C226CDED1A29.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-169939" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Photo: Monique McEnhimer</figcaption></figure>   <p>For the Titans, the two returning all-state selections came to play. Sasha Manheim was tough as nails (as always). She suffered an ankle injury and got hit in the nose, but none of it mattered. She was still tackling balls away in the midfield and playing dangerous free kicks into the area. [player_tooltip player_id='140781' first='Corinne' last='Jenkins'] has started finding her groove this season, and she showed how talented of a passer she is on that assist. The Muir twins, Paulus, and Abigail Holmes had a tough challenge tonight with McEnhimer, and held their own. [player_tooltip player_id='140779' first='Kendall' last='Funk'] did not get a ton of opportunities in this one, but found the back of the net. Something about this Cosby team tells me they may have just fully woken up at halftime of this Deep Run matchup. </p>   <p>The Titans would go on to avenge one of their early losses of the year in the game following this one, with a 3-0 win against James River. Funk tallied a hat trick in that one, and Jenkins collected another assist. Look out, 6a, for both of these talented teams. </p>

Two of the best girls teams Richmond has to offer collided last Friday when the Cosby Titans visited the Deep Run Wildcats in a much anticipated matchup.