Since the opening practice in the winter, the Avery Lady Vikings soccer team has been focused on a solitary goal: capturing a Western Highlands Conference championship and adding “2010” to the championship banner in Viking Gym.Avery finished the season in style, shutting out the Mitchell Lady Mountaineers 4-0 in Ledger last Wednesday, May 5th. The Lady Vikings then honored senior duo Hayden Blackburn and Elyse Perry with a pre-game ceremony and a post-game celebration of a title, defeating visiting Thomas Jefferson 2-1.
The Lady Vikings came out flat –footed against the Lady Mountaineers, struggling early on to find the form that had won them 14 games during the season.
Early in this second matchup with the Lady Mountaineers, the Lady Vikings had a déjà vu sensation when they were called for a foul and the Mountaineers took a free kick. On this occasion Avery keeper Mercedes Bentley was able to deflect in order to keep the game scoreless.
The Vikings stepped their defense up a notch, determined not to let the Mountaineers score in the game. It took almost the entire first half before the Lady Vikings were able to get on the scoreboard.
Coach Evaul tried to notch up the intensity by subbing many of the starters fairly early, including putting senior defender Hayden Blackburn on the front line, to give her another opportunity to make her first goal in high school. Her good efforts to score and the fan enthusiasm helped the Vikings pick up their game overall.
In the 35th minute of play Cassie Bumgarner got a ball through to Melinda Eggers for the only goal in the first half. Avery did put another ball in the net, but that goal was called back because of an off-sides call.
At halftime the coaches let the girls talk among themselves and work things out about what needed to change for the second half, while the Mitchell fans honored their seniors. The coaches talked briefly with the team before the second half began, letting them know that it was their choice about how to play in a given game. If they wanted to let the “grass” defeat them, or the referees, or whatever, then so be it. If not, pick up the intensity, go to the ball, and don’t look for excuses.
The pep talk proved highly effective, as it took only six minutes of play in the second half for the Lady Vikings to find the net. Emily Banner was fouled about 35 yards out, setting up a direct free kick. Mary Chesnut Smith took the kick for the Vikings, a well-placed ball high and out of reach of the keeper to spot Avery a 2-0 lead. In the 54th minute, Smith assisted Banner on a goal for a three-tally margin.
With a little cushion, Coach Evaul put
“Against Mountain Heritage one of the players, I believe it was Katelynn Eudy, came to me and offered to play in the back to allow Hayden to move up and try to score. She had some opportunities there, but wasn’t able to score. The coaches talked and felt we had to put her up front in this game,” Avery head coach Tom Evaul said after the match.
“All the girls were trying to get her the ball. It was unbelievable how hard they were trying to support her. We struggled a little early on and I thought playing Hayden up there would inspire us. The team picked up its momentum and was getting the ball up the field. We started Hayden back in the second half but after about five minutes decided to bring her back up again and moved Arden (
With the score 4-0 and time running down, the coaches put in all the subs to get the younger girls more game time experience. The difference in their ability and in their understanding of the game has grown immensely throughout the season.
The shutout was the 11th of the season for junior keeper Mercedes Bentley, who has continued to shine in net for the Big Red defense.
“Mercedes has just fit in so well this season. She didn’t have to establish herself, and the girls have played with her in the past and trust her. She also supports and trusts her defenders, which has a lot to do with why we have given up only eight goals all season,” Coach Evaul stated. “She deserves a lot of credit for our success, but credit also goes to Morgan Bounds and Coach Jimenez who have helped bring her along and made her a great finesse player.”
Last Friday night, the much-anticipated match between the #5 ranked Thomas Jefferson Gryphons and the #4 Avery Lady Vikings was a contest between teams that have combined for over 30 victories this season.
Before the contest, Avery honored senior players Elyse Perry and Hayden Blackburn for their contributions to the Lady Viking soccer program.
“In the past when I coached we had prayer and devotions, and that left for a while. This year the two seniors have really taken over in bringing the Lord back into the team, giving devotions, and being willing to stand up, pray, and be a witness to their teammates,” Coach Evaul said of the duo. “They are very spiritual girls and I thank them for that. In addition they have started for the most part for four years. Elyse has been willing to do anything we’ve asked of her. Hayden at the start of the year had no interest in playing sweeper, but she took her responsibility and played really well. They’re real leaders and the girls look up to them and respect and trust them.”
In the first ten minutes of the match the Gryphons put together a strong offensive run and took a hard shot on goal, but Bentley snagged the save to keep the match scoreless.
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Thomas Jefferson was whistled for a foul. Mary Chesnut Smith took a direct kick from 30 yards out. Gryphone keeper Murphy D’Oyen got her mitts on the shot, but the momentum of the ball from the kick propelled the ball through the keeper’s hands and into the net for the only score of the half.
Feeling good going into the second half, the Gryphons showed why they are worthy of their high state ranking. In the 54th minute, Victoria Bennett scores off a TJCA corner kick to knot the match at 1-1. Avery quickly regrouped, however, as two minutes later Thomas Jefferson committed a foul, resulting in a direct kick. Smith took the kick and the ball was loose in front of the net. Emily Banner pirouetted and blistered a left-footed shot into the net to score what proved to be the game-winner.For the remaining 24 minutes, the Avery defense harassed the Thomas Jefferson club and fended off any further shots to tie the match, giving Avery the conference championship. For their efforts, the Lady Vikings will host West Wilkes on Wednesday afternoon at
“The first day of practice I pointed at the banner and told the girls it was time to change that banner. It’s been too long and that’s been our goal, and it was reached tonight,” Coach Evaul stated following the win. “This team ended the regular season with a record of
A large and boisterous crowd rooted the Big Red to victory Friday night, and the turnout did not escape the notice of an appreciative team.
“The girls were excited to see that many people here tonight. They were animated toward the crowd who deserves a lot of credit,” the coach added. “We’ve had great support all season and tonight was exceptional. We knew Thomas Jefferson was bringing the crowd and we were glad to see the numbers that came to cheer for Avery.”
Best of luck to the Western Highlands Conference champion Avery Lady Vikings in the state playoffs! Information on the Big Red’s playoff run can be read in next week’s edition or checked out following each match at our online resource, the Avery Journal-Times Sports Blog, at www.ajtsports.blogspot.com
