Cate Draws Thacher 1-1

December 11, 2025

Tuesday, 9-Dec-25

Cate GVS 1 – 1 Thacher

Saves: Mimi Power (9)

Assist: Precious Adjei

Goal: Harper Bishop (50 min)

Well my adrenaline was pumping an hour before kickoff and I think it’s just starting to regulate now.  What an intense first league game against our rivals.  The result was totally appropriate in that it was a tie, but totally inaccurate in terms of how many scoring opportunities there were on both ends.  Mimi Power played goalkeeper for the full 80 minutes and made nine saves this afternoon – nine – only beaten once on a breakaway.  She had a phenomenal game and that number nine is an indication of how often the ball was ricocheting around in our box.  On the other end of the field we had 13 shots on frame.  That’s so many.  So perhaps a score of 5-5 would have been more likely; credit to both keepers.  

Our goal came in the 50th minute, the start of the second half. Precious Adjei gained possession, as she so often does, in the attacking third and passed a beautiful ball diagonally through the back line to Harper Bishop.  Harper was in excellent position, let her momentum carry her through a tackle, and played the ball around the keeper with confidence.  Apparently Harper’s game was only getting started and she dominated the left wing for the next 30 minutes; it was truly a breakout performance. 

Our possession game was on point for most of the afternoon and we tallied over 140 completed passes, spread out nicely among passing leaders Claire Bianchi (happy birthday!), Precious Adjei, Fiona Pan, Claire Chan, and Lauren Hubbs.  We lost control of possession and played a bit of kickball for a while in the second half, but I was so pleased to see the team settle down again and regain control of this aspect of their game.

And I am very impressed with our defense. They found their shape today (thank you, Coach Nemma).  Lauren Hubbs and Analise Gomez played in the middle, figuring out how to create that essential depth in the back while still stepping up to tackle.  On the outside we had the wonderful rotation of Amelia Riepe, Claire Chan, and Sierra Montoya, though after two significant injuries only Sierra will likely be available for Thursday and Friday’s games (ooof, that’s a blow, but we will adapt!).

And finally, one of the toughest aspects of today’s game was the heat, but our group pushed their bodies to the absolute limit and demonstrated a new level of physical toughness.  I want to recognize the midfield in particular, because that was a lot of running: Tania Molina, Nika Iverson, Claire Bianchi, Fiona Pan, and Violet Guilbert-Neal.  We will do our best to recover tomorrow and take the field again on Thursday at 3pm against St. Bonaventure.