Cougars fall in the final minutes of sectional opener

AVON -- For over 77 minutes the North Putnam girls' soccer team held off the Danville Warriors. In that time, Dakota Malayer threw herself in front of everything the Warriors kicked at her.

But not all fairy tales have a happy ending.

With 2:17 left, Danville's Emily Wolf lined up in front Malayer and slipped one by the senior keeper for the 1-0 victory.

"Dakota worked her tail off in that game," NPHS coach Willie Gaskins said. "It was an excellent game and for us to hold off that team for over 77 minutes with only 11 players; that's a win in my book."

Going into Tuesday's matchup, the Cougars had only 11 players, with Maggie Pinney still sidelines from an injury a few weeks ago. That didn't seem to bother Gaskins or the Lady Cougars.

North Putnam played the first half as if they had 10 or more players on the bench waiting to go in, chasing after every ball and clearing it out of the box every time it got close to the goal.

At the half, the Lady Cougars were determined to win the game, but even the greatest players get tired. And with the wind picking up and the temperature dropping, the Cougars defense began to lapsed and that is when Danville got it's break.

"The girls gave all they had. And for those 11 players to hold a team like that, with double the amount of players on their team -- that's fine with me," Gaskins said.

With its season now over, North Putnam says goodbye to four of its players, Malayer, Alexandria Allen, Elsiana Crosby and Laura McGuahgey, but one will be in the record books for a long time -- Malayer.

With her 22 saves in Tuesday nights lost, Malayer snapped the record for career saves -- in a single season.

At Avon

Danville 0 1 -- 1

North Putnam 0 0 -- 0