After the Bulldog’s undefeated regular season record last year, the team started off the season on the same track with a win against Bullis Sept. 7 and a tie against a tough Sidwell Friends squad Sept. 13, but then had an unfortunate loss to Walter Johnson Sept. 20. 

 Walter Johnson defeated the Bulldogs 3-1 Sept. 20. WJ scored first, followed by senior captain Rachel Marincola’s score on a penalty kick. The halftime score was 1-1 before WJ scored two goals in the second half.

“We did not play with pressure in the box,” senior Alexis Shay said. “We gave up free shots, that’s what happens.”

The girls have been practicing specifically on their movement of the ball and scoring more goals as they enter the start of their county games. 

 “We have been working on moving the ball side to side and on our finishing,” head coach Haroot Hakopian said. “We have had more shots on goal [than other teams], we just need to finish.”  

 Sidwell Friends came to play Sept. 13 and gave CHS some difficulties to start the game. Sidwell Friends’ senior Kara Wilson scored in the opening minutes due to lack of pressure in the beginning. However, the Bulldogs bounced back when junior Jenna Cantor scored the equalizing goal with 10 minutes remaining in the first half.  

 In the second half, CHS did not do much to create opportunities besides Cantor’s rocket shot which went just wide with 10 minutes left in the game. Tied at the end of regulation, CHS entered overtime with lots of energy and looking for a goal. 

 “In the first half we worked the ball around,” Hakopian said. “But the second half became more of a kick and run game. In overtime we played better, dominating both overtimes.”
Unfortunately CHS did not come up with a goal in overtime and settled for a 1-1 draw against the Quakers. 

“We had a really great game,” Marincola said. “Sidwell is a great team and we did everything we could.” 

 CHS visited Bullis Sept. 7 and earned a 3-0 victory with goals from Shay, Cantor and junior Colby Ranck. Playing a heavy defensive scheme, Bullis tried to stop the Bulldogs from scoring too much. 

 “We were frustrated because Bullis packed the defense in,” Hakopian said. “It was like a gigantic mass of people when we crossed midfield.”

The team has been practicing since the middle of August, but everyone did things in the offseason to stay in shape. According to Hakopian, the team was inconsistent in preseason games, playing well in one but not another.

 “We are still trying to find our identity as a team,” Hakopian said. “We have been frustrated [at times], but we can’t worry about what the other team does, we need to do what we do.”
 

The Bulldogs will be back on the field today Sept. 29 at Richard Montgomery.