Avery improved its unblemished record to 4-0 on Wednesday evening with a 3-1 victory over the #9 ranked West Wilkes Lady Blackhawks in Millers Creek.
Avery scored each of its goals in the first half of play. The first tally of the evening came on a goal from Katie Peters in the 12th minute coming off an Elyse Perry assist. A second goal came five minutes later courtesy of Mary Chesnut Smith with help from Emily Banner and Melinda Eggers. Following a change in net for West, Peters netted a second goal at the 27-minute mark off an Emily Banner assist, giving Avery a commanding 3-0 halftime lead.
In the second half the Lady Vikings were not able to connect again offensively, but Avery keeper Cailan Calloway had several saves in net. West managed a penalty kick opportunity when a handball was called in the box, but the shot hit the crossbar and rebounded, eventually being cleared by the Big Red.The Lady Vikings were able to see the entire roster garner minutes on the pitch, particularly in the second half. West scored its only goal of the night at the 70 minute mark to account for the 3-1 final. The match was a physical contest as one Avery player received a yellow card following inadvertent contact with a West player going for a ball, while in a separate incident a Lady Hawks keeper was injured and received medical care.
"Our offense looked really good tonight," Lady Vikings head coach Tom Evaul said after the win. "Our defense was a little off, giving us some scares including the missed PK."
With the win Avery will likely improve on its current #15 ranking. The Lady Vikings travel to Watauga for a match against the neighboring Lady Pioneers on Saturday.
