Soccer: North Hall girls draw with Buford, 1-1 (2/12)

BUFORD -- Tenth-ranked North Hall traveled to Buford on Tuesday to open its 2008 regular season battled the No. 4 Wolves to a 1-1 tie. <br /> <br /> The first half proved a scoreless standoff, in which North Hall (0-0-1) goalkeeper Mary Mancin shut down all threats from the Buford attack. Mancin finished the game with 20 saves.<br /> <br /> Yet the Buford (0-0-1) defense was just as strong, limiting North Hall to two shots on goal in the first half.<br /> <br /> Finally, with 20:10 left in the second half, Wolves freshman Natalya Jones broke the deadlock -- scoring off a corner kick to put Buford up 1-0.<br /> <br /> The Lady Trojans retaliated at the 14:19 mark. Ali Wright launched a midfield free kick into the Buford penalty area for teammate Ashley Lackey. Lackey ran onto the ball and punched it in to knot the score at 1-1.<br /> <br /> North Hall received solid defensive efforts from Anna Kate Wright, Tess Patton, and Jennifer Eavenson to ensure the draw.<br /> <br /> Meanwhile, Buford's Maria Petroni and Haley Holderfield played well for the Wolves. <br /> <br /> Buford plays host to No. 11 Aquinas (Class AA) at 6:30 p.m. Friday. North Hall's next contest is at 5 p.m. Thursday at Class AAAAA foe Forsyth Central.<br /> <br /> --Dennis Carlton