Dunwoody, GA-Team 103 likes to call themselves the Snakes.
An apt moniker, considering how all afternoon long would-be Blue scorers seemed positively snake bitten just as they reached the goal line.
On Saturday, Riley Parks conducted a one-girl soccer clinic, appearing out of nowhere at crucial moments to kick away sure Blue goals
while leading Green 103 to a 7-3 romp in the season's second game.
In addition to defensive heroics, Parks performed a hat trick on offense, showing that she's the complete package.
But if Parks wasn't enough, then there was Macey Speed. She too struck three goals, giving the Snakes a scoring duo that may well be the envy of the league.
Speed opened the scoring in the first quarter after a nifty assist from Parks,
who moments later dazzled the crowd by dribbling the length of the field along the near sideline just before sharply veering to her left and firing in a 15-footer.
Then, early in the 2nd quarter, Caroline Draughton tapped in an errant Blue pass and suddenly Team 102 found itself facing a 3-0 deficit.
But the side fought back valiantly.
Emerging from a packed scrum that more resembled rugby than soccer, Macy Werner powered in a 10-foot shot
and for a moment Blue 102 seemed back in it, down only 3-1.
But that's when Parks set about almost single-handedly dashing Blue hopes.
As Sarah Jensen or Valerie Olzer would rumble goalward, an imminent score seemingly at foot,
Parks would streak across the field and turn them away with a last-second block.
The 3rd quarter was all Green. Parks and Speed each scored and twice again denied Olzer and Jensen at or near the goal line.
Late in the 4th, amid substitutes, Olzer finally got untracked with two unassisted scores. But it was far too little and way too late.
Time ran out, and the Green Snakes slithered off the field proud bearers of an absolute defensive gem.
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