The Avery soccer team gave up an early goal to the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy (TJCA) Gryphons last Monday, October 11, but rallied to defeat the Gryphons by a 3-2 final score at MacDonald Stadium.
The Gryphons scored the opening goal just four minutes into the match to take a surprising 1-0 lead. Avery, beginning the match without three of its starters who were benched due to disciplinary reasons, appeared out of sync and struggled for cohesion as TJCA attacked the weaknesses of the Viking defensive alignment.
The starters entered the contest after 10 minutes had elapsed, but the team still struggled to find its groove.
“I had to move some players around to accommodate the fact that three starters were on the bench. TJCA saw our weakness and took advantage of it, getting the early score,” Avery Head Soccer Coach Tom Evaul said following the match. “I don’t think we totally recovered even when the three starters did finally get to go into the game. Even though we looked like we were playing a good game, we had already allowed TJCA to get some wind in their sails and they gave us a good game. It was an intense game throughout the entire 80 minutes.”
Avery rallied to tie the match as Daniel Lusk scored at the 20 minute mark off an assist by Isauro Estrada. Just four minutes later, Jorge Arreola picked up the squad with the first of his two goals on the evening. Arreola scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 51st minute off an assist from Lusk and Estrada.
“I think as the season is beginning to wind down, and every game has a whole new meaning, the intensity and determination of the team has picked up,” Evaul said. “They knew they should have beaten Owen, but a lack of the ability by our offense to finish and score goals woke them up a little bit. Our defense has always been solid except for the loss to Hendersonville at their place, but I am proud of the way the defense has handled all the pressure they have endured this season, especially when two are freshman, and one is a junior that didn’t get that much playtime last year, and when he did, he played midfield or forward. Brock [Yackey] has done a great job with his leadership in bringing those four guys to a whole new level of intense aggressive defensive soccer.”
On Wednesday, October 13, the Vikings squared off in a rematch with the Hendersonville Bearcats. Avery lost 8-0 in its first meeting with the Bearcats in Hendersonville, due in large part to the absence of the team’s two leading scorers. However, in the rematch at MacDonald Stadium the Vikings made a better game of it, playing step for step with the No. 2 ranked Bearcats for most of the match but falling by a final score of 4-2.
The Bearcats drew first blood with a goal in the eighth minute by Ahmae Jarrar, firing a shot from about 20 yards out that found the top portion of the net, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 advantage. Avery knotted the match off a free kick from Arreola from near the 20 yard-line, as Lusk crossed the face of the goal and put a shot past the right side of the keeper for an equalizing goal in the 13th minute to tie the match at 1-1.
Five minutes later, the Bearcats managed to slip another shot in goal off a header from Jake Cosgrove to put Hendersonville in front 2-1. With just four minutes remaining before halftime, the Bearcats netted a key third goal to boost its lead to 3-1 when Western North Carolina’s all-time leading goal scorer and Hendersonville’s do-it-all offensive star Bryan Aguirre fired a low screamer of a shot that found the back of the net.
“Against Hendersonville, we knew we had to become a different team and approach this game differently than we did at their place. It did help that we had Daniel and Jorge back, because I don’t believe Hendersonville was expecting anything like the pressure their defense had to take on,” Evaul said. “We changed the way we lined up. Instead of a 4-3-3, we went to a flatback four defense with no sweeper or stopper and just four fullbacks. Brock was man-to-man on No. 9 whenever he got within the 30-yard line, and with the two outside fullbacks playing wider due to the two additional middle fullbacks that helped us cut down some on their outside play, which they are so good at.
The Gryphons scored the opening goal just four minutes into the match to take a surprising 1-0 lead. Avery, beginning the match without three of its starters who were benched due to disciplinary reasons, appeared out of sync and struggled for cohesion as TJCA attacked the weaknesses of the Viking defensive alignment.
The starters entered the contest after 10 minutes had elapsed, but the team still struggled to find its groove.
“I had to move some players around to accommodate the fact that three starters were on the bench. TJCA saw our weakness and took advantage of it, getting the early score,” Avery Head Soccer Coach Tom Evaul said following the match. “I don’t think we totally recovered even when the three starters did finally get to go into the game. Even though we looked like we were playing a good game, we had already allowed TJCA to get some wind in their sails and they gave us a good game. It was an intense game throughout the entire 80 minutes.”
Avery rallied to tie the match as Daniel Lusk scored at the 20 minute mark off an assist by Isauro Estrada. Just four minutes later, Jorge Arreola picked up the squad with the first of his two goals on the evening. Arreola scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 51st minute off an assist from Lusk and Estrada.
“I think as the season is beginning to wind down, and every game has a whole new meaning, the intensity and determination of the team has picked up,” Evaul said. “They knew they should have beaten Owen, but a lack of the ability by our offense to finish and score goals woke them up a little bit. Our defense has always been solid except for the loss to Hendersonville at their place, but I am proud of the way the defense has handled all the pressure they have endured this season, especially when two are freshman, and one is a junior that didn’t get that much playtime last year, and when he did, he played midfield or forward. Brock [Yackey] has done a great job with his leadership in bringing those four guys to a whole new level of intense aggressive defensive soccer.”
On Wednesday, October 13, the Vikings squared off in a rematch with the Hendersonville Bearcats. Avery lost 8-0 in its first meeting with the Bearcats in Hendersonville, due in large part to the absence of the team’s two leading scorers. However, in the rematch at MacDonald Stadium the Vikings made a better game of it, playing step for step with the No. 2 ranked Bearcats for most of the match but falling by a final score of 4-2.
The Bearcats drew first blood with a goal in the eighth minute by Ahmae Jarrar, firing a shot from about 20 yards out that found the top portion of the net, giving the Bearcats a 1-0 advantage. Avery knotted the match off a free kick from Arreola from near the 20 yard-line, as Lusk crossed the face of the goal and put a shot past the right side of the keeper for an equalizing goal in the 13th minute to tie the match at 1-1.
“Against Hendersonville, we knew we had to become a different team and approach this game differently than we did at their place. It did help that we had Daniel and Jorge back, because I don’t believe Hendersonville was expecting anything like the pressure their defense had to take on,” Evaul said. “We changed the way we lined up. Instead of a 4-3-3, we went to a flatback four defense with no sweeper or stopper and just four fullbacks. Brock was man-to-man on No. 9 whenever he got within the 30-yard line, and with the two outside fullbacks playing wider due to the two additional middle fullbacks that helped us cut down some on their outside play, which they are so good at.
“We dropped Isauro back to the middle which again spread out the midfield giving better coverage on the wings, plus giving Forrest some help in the middle with those two great players that Hendersonville has in that area. We pretty much left the offense up to Jorge and Daniel and they stepped up to meet that challenge.”
Hendersonville continued to be frustrated by the Avery defense, as the club earned three yellow cards during the match. Eventually, however, the talented Bearcats found a way to break through for a fourth and final goal, coming in the 51st minute from Will Patrick to up the Hendersonville lead to 4-1.
Refusing to give in, the Vikings tallied a second goal as Lusk broke away from the Bearcat defense and sent a pass to Arreola, who took a shot which was deflected. Lusk gathered the rebound and fired a low shot into the net to narrow the margin to 4-2, in the 63rd minute, which proved to be the final goal by either club for the remainder of the match.
“We had a lot more opportunities on the offensive end of the field than we had at their place, and I believe the constant threat by our offense kept their offense in check because their defense had to actually play defense this time, and couldn’t just do with the ball what they wanted to do,” Evaul said.
“The guys were also determined not to be embarrassed again, especially at home, and the whole week of practices they practiced with intensity and desire. It showed on the field that night, as they played at a whole new level and gave the state champs a run for their money.
“We are the only Western Highlands team to score two against them up to this point, and at the same time limit them to only four goals. Again, only the 3A and 4A schools have been able to do that to them thus far this year, so the coaching staff was extremely proud of how this team came out to play, both mentally and physically.”
The Vikings hope they can carry the momentum of a strong effort against Hendersonville into this week’s matches against Polk County in Columbus on October 18 and at home against Madison on Wednesday, October 20.
“One of the biggest problems we have had to contend with this season has been inconsistency,” Evaul said. “If we can consistently build as we go into the final four games of the season, and not get complacent and feel like the Hendersonville game was the peak of our season, then we should be in fine shape.”
Notes: The Avery soccer team will be recognizing all pee week soccer teams and coaches at halftime of the Madison soccer match this Wednesday, October 20. Participants are asked to wear their jerseys to the game for the recognition. Start time of the match is 6:00 p.m., with halftime around 6:30 p.m.
Hendersonville continued to be frustrated by the Avery defense, as the club earned three yellow cards during the match. Eventually, however, the talented Bearcats found a way to break through for a fourth and final goal, coming in the 51st minute from Will Patrick to up the Hendersonville lead to 4-1.
Refusing to give in, the Vikings tallied a second goal as Lusk broke away from the Bearcat defense and sent a pass to Arreola, who took a shot which was deflected. Lusk gathered the rebound and fired a low shot into the net to narrow the margin to 4-2, in the 63rd minute, which proved to be the final goal by either club for the remainder of the match.
“We had a lot more opportunities on the offensive end of the field than we had at their place, and I believe the constant threat by our offense kept their offense in check because their defense had to actually play defense this time, and couldn’t just do with the ball what they wanted to do,” Evaul said.
“The guys were also determined not to be embarrassed again, especially at home, and the whole week of practices they practiced with intensity and desire. It showed on the field that night, as they played at a whole new level and gave the state champs a run for their money.
“We are the only Western Highlands team to score two against them up to this point, and at the same time limit them to only four goals. Again, only the 3A and 4A schools have been able to do that to them thus far this year, so the coaching staff was extremely proud of how this team came out to play, both mentally and physically.”
The Vikings hope they can carry the momentum of a strong effort against Hendersonville into this week’s matches against Polk County in Columbus on October 18 and at home against Madison on Wednesday, October 20.
“One of the biggest problems we have had to contend with this season has been inconsistency,” Evaul said. “If we can consistently build as we go into the final four games of the season, and not get complacent and feel like the Hendersonville game was the peak of our season, then we should be in fine shape.”
Notes: The Avery soccer team will be recognizing all pee week soccer teams and coaches at halftime of the Madison soccer match this Wednesday, October 20. Participants are asked to wear their jerseys to the game for the recognition. Start time of the match is 6:00 p.m., with halftime around 6:30 p.m.
Avery soccer will also recognize the 2010 NCHSAA 1A girls soccer runner-up Lady Vikings at halftime of the Mitchell game on Wednesday, October 27. Soccer seniors will be honored prior to that same match against the Mountaineers.
