The Avery Lady Vikings soccer team keeps rolling along and adding to the win column in impressive fashion. Over the past week Avery faced a trio of tough opponents, mowing down each one and gaining notice from observers around Following its snow-out against Thomas Jefferson, the Avery Lady Vikings returned to the pitch last Thursday afternoon at MacDonald Stadium with a highly-anticipated matchup with perennial 1A soccer power
Avery held home-field advantage, but the Lady Bearcats seized momentum quickly in the match with a goal in the match's seventh minute to take a 1-0 lead.
In the final minute of the opening half, Emily Banner sent a cross pass in the front of goal where teammate Elyse Perry chipped a shot by the keeper to knot the score at 1-1.
At the half, the team was given the opportunity to discuss amongst themselves what strategy would work best for the second half. The coaches followed up the player input with emphasis on good first touches and the need to be more aggressive to the ball.
The coaches noted that
Throughout the game, the Lady Bearcats had several shots on goal which were just off, hitting the crossbar and coming back into play. Fortunately, the Vikings were able to clear the rebounds.
The Lady Bearcats outshot the Lady Vikings, especially in the second half, but most of their 20 shots on goal were wide, with keeper Mercedes Bentley coming up with a key save. Bentley had a solid effort in goal to help keep the Lady Vikings in the match. Avery had 13 shots on goal with eight saved by the Bearcat keeper.
Late in the game as the sky got darker and more threatening, it appeared that the coaches were going to have to decide on whether to play overtime or not. However, with twenty seconds left in the game, Cassie Bumgarner sent a ball forward to Banner, who scored the go-ahead goal for the Lady Vikings. Avery's defense stood tall in for the remainder of the match to take the well-earned 2-1 win.
For the Big Red, it was the first win against
On Friday the team traveled to Gamewell to take on the West Caldwell Lady Warriors. Despite a damp, muddy, and small field, the Big Red persevered by pitching another shutout in a 3-0 whitewash.
The Lady Vikings got on the scoreboard in the 14th minute with an unassisted goal by Mary Chesnut Smith. Avery’s players and coaches quickly recognized from the outset of the match that Lady Warriors keeper’s goal kicks were not strong and positioned themselves to win the ball off the goal kick. Smith took a goal kick and returned it to the goal for a score.
In the 21st minute Emily Banner took the free kick following a
Avery received a little help from its opponent on the team’s final score of the match. Midway through the second half, Banner sent the ball into the area in front of the goal, hoping a teammate would score off of it. Instead, a Warrior defender got to the ball first but was unable to control it, inadvertently netting an own-goal for the Vikings.As a result of controlling the match, the entire Avery bench, with the exception of an injured Arden Stanley, was able to get some playing time.
The Lady Vikings took 28 shots in the first half and 12 in the second.
Avery was successful in picking up the win, but the coaches were unhappy with the team because they caused the Lady Warriors keeper to look really good. She had 24 saves on the night compared to two first half saves for Avery keeper Mercedes Bentley.
With the Lady Vikings earning wins in their first six matches, the team shot up the state 1A soccer rankings this past week from sixth to second, quite possibly the highest state ranking by any Avery sports team in school history during a season.
On Monday night, Avery head coach Tom Evaul shared the news of the ranking with his team in hopes that it might be additional motivation against an old familiar foe in the Polk County Lady Wolverines.
"The coaching staff is extremely proud of the girls and what they are accomplishing thus far. Their ranking is higher than I would have expected, but we're proud that the state recognizes their potential and gives them credit for doing what they have done so far," Avery head soccer coach Tom Evaul said. "It puts more pressure on the girls, but I believe they are handling it well right now."
Polk has defeated Avery in the opening round of the state playoffs the pest three seasons, and the Big Red was looking for revenge. With a late goal Avery achieved its objective of finally defeating the Lady Wolverines, capturing a narrow 3-2 win to remain unbeaten on the season.
During warm-ups prior to the match, two Vikings beaten up from previous games were re-taped and padded to protect and to make more comfortable a twisted ankle and bad bruises. This concerned the coaches as the players involved were very key players. Tough as nails, they played the whole game, even though further adjustments had to be made at half.
Monday’s match was a seesaw affair, as the two teams played to a virtual standoff. In the 15th minute of play, the Lady Vikings struck first when junior forward Melinda Eggers forwarded the ball to junior Mary Chesnut Smith. Smith, playing forward at the time, sent a shot by the Wolverine keeper for the first goal of the match.
Nine minutes later Polk picked up the equalizer, as senior Anna Trakas, the Most Valuable Player from Polk’s state title team a season ago, scored to knot the match at 1-1.
The tie was short lived, as in the 26th minute junior Emily Banner got the ball to senior Elyse Perry, who blistered a shot into the goal with such force that the keeper could not corral the ball before it crossed the goal line for Avery’s second goal.
Polk showed the heart of a champion, however, as ten minutes later Trakas struck again to tie the match at 2-2 at intermission.Polk had a slight edge with shots on goal in an exciting first half, and the Lady Wolverines had two corner kicks to Avery’s one.
In the second half Avery dominated the game more than in the first, although the Avery coaches were concerned about the tiredness and injuries of the players and whether they could continue to hold the Wolverines at bay.
Polk played aggressively but Avery was equal to the task by hanging in, reacting rather than dictating play. Avery’s sideline was not looking forward to a potential overtime with Polk as neither team could net a go-ahead goal. Avery was getting shots on goal, out-shooting Polk 19-9 in the second half. Viking junior keeper Mercedes Bentley was able to make several great saves, but the Polk keeper did not have to stop any crucial shots, as Avery’s attempts missed the goal face.
As the half reached its final minute, an Avery drive to the goal went out-of-bounds over the end line. The ball was last touched by a Polk player to give Avery its first corner kick of the second half.
Smith insisted that junior Katelynn Eudy take the shot, and even though she was reluctant, not having taken one before, she did. With only 12 seconds left in the game, Eudy quickly took the corner kick placing the ball in front of the goal, practically on top of Smith’s head. Smith met the ball, heading it in for the go-ahead and winning goal with just 4.1 seconds remaining in the match. Polk barely had time to get the ball in play as the clock had 4.1 seconds left on it after the score.The coaches were excited with the win, the team’s second last-minute win in three matches.
"The past three games have been a real challenge to the character of the team, and they have stepped up to the plate. Although right now we aren't playing at the skill level that I know they are capable of playing at, the girls are playing with a lot of heart and determination which has been what has carried us through these past tough games," Avery head soccer coach Tom Evaul remarked after the week's action. "Right now we have been dealing with injuries to five of our key players and sickness with two others, but none of these girls have let the pain or discomfort interfere with their will to win."
Avery improves its mark to a perfect 7-0 and 4-0 in Western Highlands Conference competition. The team’s next match is a home game Wednesday, March 31st against
