Live from Forbush at Shelby

The teams are about to kickoff the 2A Western final at Blanton Stadium. Here are the starting lineups ... I'll have updates every 10 minutes - or when there is a goal.

Shelby
Megan Cantu
Lauren Burton
Blair Jaynes
Morgan McDaniel
Maggie McDaniel
Courtney Nickle
Danielle Brinton
Sara Horn
Anna Keeley
Patience Smith
GK - Julia Kiser

Forbush
Bella Cochran
Katelynd Caudle
Kelly Wood
Lindsay Lineberry
Krystle Mathews
Laticia Patino
Audrey Niemeyer
Kayla Cline
Jessica Baity
Cari Beck
GK - Courtney Phillips

First half
Three minutes in, Shelby's Maggie McDaniel scores from the right wing with a shot into the far left corner past Forbush goalie Courtney Phillips to make it 1-0.

10 minutes in - Forbush is winning its fair share of balls in the middle of the field, but the Lions have yet to break down deep in the defensive third of the field. Forbush has one corner kick.
Shelby's McDaniel posted another shot on goal near the 10 minute mark, which was saved by Phillips.

20 minutes in - The Falcons are outshooting the Lions, but most of their shots have been from long range and easily collected by Julia Kiser or wide of the goal. Shelby's Blair Jaynes just made a nice defensive play to poke a ball out of bounds to force a corner kick.

Forbush's Jessica Baity scores two goals within about a two-minute stretch to give the Falcons a 2-1 margin. Baity was open in the middle of the field on both goals as Forbush is doing a solid job of working the ball around the Shelby defense and midfield.

Audrey Niemeyer scores for Forbush about 25 minutes into the match to make it 3-1. The ball got through the Shelby defense as Niemeyer had a 1 vs. 1 with the keeper.

Shelby's midfield and defense has turned in improved play over the past few minutes and helped fuel several deep attacks by the Lions. Maggie McDaniel just had a shot saved by Phillips as the score remains 3-1 in favor of Forbush.

I'm headed down to the field for the last few minutes of the first half, and I'll be back with some first half stats.

Forbush goalie Courtney Phillips made a flurry of saves in a wild sequence. First, she made a diving save on a penalty kick by Danielle Brinton, then saved the follow shot out of bounds. On the ensuing corner kick, Phillips dove to save a header by Patience Smith to force another corner.

First half score - Forbush 3, Shelby 1

Stats: Shots - Forbush 15, Shelby 13; Shots on frame - Forbush 8, Shelby 5; Saves - Phillips 7; Kiser 2.

Second half under way at 6:54 p.m.
Shelby gets two early corner kick and seems to have found more of a rhythm all over the field against a stout opponent. Patience Smith had a near miss on a cross from Morgan McDaniel five minutes into the half.

A little over 15 minutes into the half, Shelby still trails, 3-1. Both teams have had a handful of deep attacks but both defenses are doing a solid job of recovering.

Shelby continues to turn in improved play all over the field in the middle stages of the second half, but can't break through against the Falcons' defense to get within striking distance.

Julia Kiser with a nice save from close range on a 1 vs. 1 against Kelly Wood to force a corner kick with just about five minutes left.

Niemeyer boots in her second goal with a leftfooted shot from the corner to make it 4-1. Niemeyer had very little angle on the shot but still found a way to get it past Kiser.

Final score - Forbush 4, Shelby 1. The story on this game will be available online at www.shelbystar.com later tonight.

Forbush will face either Cardinal Gibbons or Kill Devil Hills First Flight in the State Championship Saturday in Raleigh.