KFDM COOP Posted March 20, 2008 Report Posted March 20, 2008 Elam's header sparks PN-G to 1-0 triumph The Port Arthur News HUMBLE -- Senior Marisa Elam used her head at just the right instant, knocking home a header for the game's lone goal as Port Neches-Groves advanced to a 4A girls bisdistrict victory, 1-0 over Huntsville, Thursday night. Elam's header followed Brittany Ansel's corner kick in the second half's second minute as PN-G improved to 17-5 and entered the 4A area round next week. The team's leading scorer with 13 goals, Elam turned it into a winning night for the home team at Charles Street Stadium. The visiting squad, Huntsville, ended its season at 13-9 under coach Pres Holcomb. Elam fired a header past Huntsville freshman goalkeeper Chelsea McCracken. That goal enabled Lady Indians junior Breanne Martin to record her season's 13th shutout. The Lady Indians' coach Aimee Bates was pleased to see her team capture a victory but PN-G was concerned about plenty of unfinished business. First, the Lady Indians dominated shots on goal, 28-10. Second, the winners have a bit of history to change. PN-G has captured several previous bidistrict girls playoff wins but never has advanced past the area round. That opportunity will arrive next week when the Lady Indians will face District 17-4A champion Lindale. Officials from both schools will meet today to finalize arrangements. The University Interscholastic League requires the 4A girls area playoff game to be played either next Monday or Tuesday, the 24th or 25th. "I don't feel that lucky about the win," PN-G's coach said. "I feel there were several goals we should have had that we weren't able to score. We had a couple of headers that we should have made off corner kicks." Playing at Charles Street Stadium created a different strategical issue for PN-G because the Humble field contained a wider playing area than virtually any Golden Triangle-area school field. It pointed up different elements of PN-G's game which Bates noticed. "On a scale of one to 10, I would say we were about a seven," Bates said. "We liked the wider field. But we have to go to the outside, and we should have beaten more people off the dribble than we did." Bates' greatest personnel adjustment involved a hamstring muscle pull which sidelined junior outside midfielder Alexis Smithy. Sophomore Jenna Rhame filled in effectively. The PN-G coaches also praised the work of sophomore marking back Brittany Vigee.
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