On Wednesday night the Lady Vikings completed the gauntlet of three matches in three consecutive nights when they ventured back into conference play for a rematch with the Owen Warlassies.Avery easily handled Owen in their previous meeting at Swannanoa, winning by a 9-1 score. The rematch was a closer affair, but the Big Red was up to the task nonetheless, as they blanked the Warlassies 4-0.
Despite the cool conditions and snow having melted off turf earlier in the afternoon at MacDonald Stadium, Avery showed no tired legs as they drew first blood in the match.
Sophomore Melinda Eggers provided the offensive punch in the first half, tallying a pair of goals to spot Avery the 2-0 lead at the half. Eggers scored her first goal off a cross from fellow sophomore forward Emily Banner in the 20th minute, then scored off an assist from Mary Chesnut Smith in the 26th minute.
The Big Red matched their offensive proficiency with another pair of goals in the second 40 minutes of play. Avery made good on a corner kick in the 42nd minute when Banner scored with a header off a Smith corner.
The final goal of the match came in the 75th minute when Rachel Buchanan assisted on Teddi Jablonski’s first-ever goal.
Avery’s defense was smothering all night as they turned away virtually every Warlassies attack effort. The Lady Vikings laced 23 shots on goal to Owen’s two. Avery senior keeper Cailan Calloway was a wall again in goal, recording a save and her sixth shutout for the season.
The Lady Vikings take a well-deserved break next week to heal injuries and rest. Avery’s next scheduled match is a big one, slated for Monday, April 20th with conference leader Polk County ventures to MacDonald Stadium for a key Western Highlands Conference match.
