Georgie Aleong scored a hat trick and goalie Charlotte Buhr notched another shutout in the Storm’s 8-0 win over the Surrey United Divas in Guildford on Sunday. Leading just 1-0 at half time, the U18 rep girls had started slowly with Charlotte and defenders Saleah Bilbach, Eva Robson, Emma Judd and Sofia Carroll kept busy.
The Divas played a high-pressing game and thwarted numerous Storm attacks by deploying the offside trap to great effect. One way to beat an offside trap, though, is to keep dribbling, which is exactly what Saleah did, putting the road team in front with a surging run from the back line, capped by a fine finish from the edge of the penalty area.
Playing with three strikers and only three defenders in the second half, a more attack-minded Storm stepped up the tempo. Midfielder Lexi Muir peppered the goal with shots from outside the penalty area, and Georgie was first to pounce on one rebound, stretching the lead. Ingrid Hansen added two more, both fine breakaways beating an on-rushing goalie. Rarely off the scoresheet, Pearl Deasey and Nisha Wells added singles while Georgie capped her hat trick by out-running the last defender and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.
In the final minute, Charlotte made a stellar save from a Divas breakaway, to preserve the shutout. In seven unbeaten games, the Storm have scored 41 and conceded three. They play Surrey-based Coastal FC this Sunday. Next home game is Nov. 20.
– Submitted
