GIRLS DISTRICT SOCCER Hubbard blanks Warren JFK

Hubbard will try for its fourth straight district title Saturday against Champion.
By BILL SULLIVAN
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
HUBBARD -- One player might lead the area in scoring and the second rarely gets off a shot, but Jami Duvall and Brittany McKee propelled the Hubbard High girls soccer team past Warren Kennedy 2-0 in a Division II district semifinal Wednesday.
Top-seeded Hubbard (15-3), which has won three consecutive district titles, will play host to Champion Saturday at 7 p.m.
Team effort
Duvall, a senior, and freshman Amanda Fisher each scored a goal and each produced an assist, but it was the defense of McKee that helped keep JFK off the scoreboard.
With the game about 30 minutes old, Fisher had a nice run down the left wing and her cross hit Duvall in stride about 15 yards out. Duvall's kick to the left side of the net was true for a 1-0 Hubbard lead.
"It came from the middle and I think the defender was off to the side," Duvall said. "I cut it back to the right and shot."
Duvall has scored 35 goals this year and 71 for her career.
With 27 minutes remaining in the game, Hubbard began an attack from midfield. Duvall played a ball to Fisher streaking down the middle.
Fisher lobbed the ball in from 20 yards out to make it 2-0.
"I saw it was a 2-on-1," explained Duvall. "The defender came my way and it was just a little tap to Fisher."
On each Hubbard scoring play JFK senior goaltender Michelle Rossio made a valiant attempt. On the night, Rossio saved 13 of Hubbard's 27 shots.
In contrast, Lynle Cornell of Hubbard was rarely tested with just four stops on six JFK kicks.
Opportunity presented
With an ice pack taped to her right ankle after the game, McKee talked about her soccer history and her rare shot.
"I've been brought up as defender. I always play sweeper," McKee said.
With seven minutes to go McKee abandoned her usual position right in front of Cornell and joined the attack.
"I was looking for a run all game, actually," McKee said. "I saw the opening and Anna [DeJulio] helped me out -- she got me the ball. I took a shot. Unfortunately, it didn't go in."
McKee hasn't scored this year and has just five goals in her career. But, her importance is to clean up matters when the opponents start an attack.
Defense first
Hubbard coach Dennis Smith, in his 12th year, said his team strives for good defense.
"Year in, year out, we build our team from the back with a strong defense. This year we allowed just 14 goals in 18 games," Smith said.
JFK (9-6-4), which returns 10 starters next season, played a counter-attacking style, allowing Hubbard more chances.
"We were in the game," JFK coach Billy Roberts said. "As long as you're in the game you have a chance to win."