Saturday, May 29, 2010

By Dave Utnik, Potomac News & InsideNova.com

FAIRFAX, Virg. – The game plan was designed to close off shooting lanes and keep the best women’s soccer team in the Atlantic Division as far away from the net as possible.

Northern Virginia Majestics coach Sean Burke asked a lot from his talented defenders, and the midfield line as well, on Saturday afternoon.

Shutting out the Atlanta Silverbacks is no easy task. So far this season, it’s actually been impossible, but the Majestics nearly did it in their W-League home opener.

Utilizing a 4-5-1 formation that they rehearsed for just 45 minutes in practice, the Majestics considered their effort pretty much a success even if the final result wasn’t.

The Silverbacks won 1-0 on forward Kristin Garmen’s first goal of the season, but the evening wasn’t a total loss for the Majestics by any means. Just one week after they gave up five goals in Tampa, the Majestics played inspired defense against the three-time division champions and offered, perhaps, a more accurate measure of their collective talent.

“In Tampa I don’t think we believed in ourselves and what we’re capable of,” defender Brittain Maas said. “All of us play in college. We’re good players and today we came out with a strong belief that we’re really good. We weren’t going to have that score again.”

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