AJ-T Sports LIVE FROM... MACDONALD STADIUM (WHC Soccer Championship)

The #4 ranked Avery women's soccer team (15-1-2) is hosting #5 Thomas Jefferson Academy (15-2-0) in a matchup of top-10 ranked 1A teams in the state. Tonight's winner takes home a Western Highlands Conference championship, and the Lady Vikings are honoring its pair of seniors, Hayden Blackburn and Elyse Perry.

Ball has kicked off and the match is underway!

Update #1: The match is scoreless at MacDonald Stadium midway through the first half. A beautiful save by Mercedes Bentley on a rocket shot to goal has preserved the scoreless tie. If the match happens to end tonight in a tie, the Lady Vikings will take home the conference title due to the Hendersonville Lady Bearcats defeating TJCA earlier this week.

Update #2: GOAL AVERY! Mary Chesnut Smith on a direct kick from the 30-yard line goes through the extended arms of TJCA goalie Murphy D'Oyen and into the back of the net in the 38th minute of play, giving the Lady Vikings a 1-0 lead.

Update #3: Halftime at MacDonald Stadium and Avery leads 1-0 on the Mary Chesnut Smith goal. An exciting second half coming up!

Update #4: GOAL TJCA! Thomas Jefferson scores the tying goal by Victoria Bennett off a corner kick. Match tied 1-1 in the 54th minute of play. New ball game.

Update #5: GOAL AVERY in the 56th minute. Off a foul by TJCA and direct kick by Smith, Emily Banner spins on a ball from about 20 yards out and pelts a rocket shot into the back of the goal with the left foot to put Avery back out in front 2-1!

Update #6: 13 minutes left in the match and Avery is holding to its one-goal lead. Both teams have had a couple of scoring chances but the keepers have been strong.

Update #7: Intense game out on the pitch. A pair of yellow cards issued in the last eight minutes (one AHS player, one for TJCA coach). Two minutes left to play and Avery tries to hang on to its one-goal edge!

Update #8: It's over from MacDonald Stadium. AVERY WINS 2-1 to clinch the Western Highlands Conference championship! Congratulations to the players, head coach Tom Evaul, and the Viking coaching staff on a great season, hanging a banner for the Big Red soccer program.

Avery as a conference champion should host a first-round game in the 1A state soccer playoffs beginning next Wednesday. Avery concludes its regular season at 16-1-2 overall.

That's it from Big Red Country. Thanks for reading!

Senior Soccer Spotlight: Blackburn, Perry Reflect on Lady Viking Soccer Careers

As key parts of some of the most successful seasons in Avery women’s soccer history, seniors Hayden Blackburn and Elyse Perry have experienced a great deal of joy and heights.

The pair will be playing their final regular season home game in a pivotal 1A contest this Friday for Senior Night against fellow state-ranked opponent Thomas Jefferson.

Earlier this week I spoke with the duo about this season’s squad, past seasons, their families and the future, among other topics.

AJ-T: If you had to describe your four years in the Lady Vikings soccer program in just ONE WORD, which word would you use?

Elyse Perry (EP): I would have to say “blessed”. With the coaching staff and the girls we have, God has definitely been a part of everything. Just seeing what God has done in our team and our games, I’m so excited about how things will go this week. Our girls have really become close this year and we’ve been growing together.

Hayden Blackburn (HB): I would definitely have to say the word for this year’s experience has been “teamwork”. Although we have a lot of really strong individual players, if it wasn’t for the new girls coming out this year and our returners who are all putting their own personalities into the makeup of the team, we wouldn’t have done so well as we have this year.

AJ-T: What are your plans following graduation next month?

HB: I will be going to UNC-Charlotte, pursuing a degree in business and hopefully go into something that deals with travel.

EP: I will be attending Appalachian State University, hopefully as a biology major for pre-medicine, with a minor in Spanish, so Coach Evaul should be happy.

AJ-T: Could you mention your family and their significance to you?

EP: My parents are Thomas Wayne and Julia Esther Perry and I am from Linville. I have a sister Savannah who has played on the soccer team with me this season. It’s been really neat to have her along with this season, that even though we are separated by age quite a bit, we’re still able to experience this season together in high school. My grandmother Elizabeth Hill is awesome and has been so supportive, and I also appreciate God.

HB: My parents are Rick and Kim Blackburn and I am from Newland. I definitely have to thank them as well as my brothers Cole and Spencer Blackburn. They have been so supportive of me and have helped me practice and toughening me up. I also feel like our teammates on the soccer team are like family, as we’ve grown so close this season. I also thank God for keeping us safe and blessing us with such a great group and a good season.

AJ-T: What has it been like to play for Coach Evaul and the Avery coaching staff?

HB: I know we’ve noticed it and players have talked about it, but Coach Evaul is an excellent coach, the best that I have had. He knows how to inspire us to focus and do our best. He’s very good at motivating us. Even with multiple coaches, it’s a little hectic sometimes but they all work really well together. It’s good to have a lot of people to go to, and each has their own individual field they can help with. And even though Coach Lou (Brancourt) left, he’s still had a huge influence on us and started the foundation of where we are now. Also Coach Jimenez has helped us to see things going on from a defensive perspective.

EP: Coach Evaul is really good at motivating, and Coach Daniels is a great encourager, giving us a lot of confidence. Coach Mitch is hardcore. He pushes us hard but it’s a good thing because then we play harder. We love Coach Wit. She is so funny and supportive. Also Coach Jimenez has been great with helping Mercedes in goal and helping us on defense.

AJ-T: What will you miss the most about playing soccer at Avery?

EP: It is just so much fun to run up and down the field with a ball and after a ball. I just love playing soccer, and with the quality of girls we have we don’t get big-headed and we’ve handled it so well.

HB: I’m going to miss the friendship and companionship that have built and share as a team. Every one of the girls on the team are friends to one another. There aren’t any outsiders or cliques. Everybody is just really close to each other, and I’m gonna miss that.

AJ-T: What will you miss THE LEAST about your playing career as a soccer player at Avery?

EP: It’s hard to think of anything. I guess in the years before this season when we had to run after games, but not anything really bad comes to mind..

HB: I guess I’d say that I would not miss the after-game running, but that’s just been the case the past three years with Coach Lou.

AJ-T: What advice would you give to underclassmen who will be playing next year after you’ve graduated?

HB: My advice to the girls for next year would be to stay positive and stay together as a team. Also to stay positive with one another, because the more positive each person stays, the better the team will be and the better each individual player will be.

EP: I would encourage the younger girls to invite other girls to play. Following next season, the team is really going to need girls to just field a team, so I encourage them to be inviting of other players and spread “Soccer Fever”. I also hope the girls will want to have a good reputation as a team and with the school, representing Avery. We don’t want people not coming to the game because of something negative, so I hope the girls will keep being positive.

AJ-T: How has playing soccer at Avery helped you as a player and as a person on the field and off the field?

HB: Soccer has given me something to do and has kept me driven, especially in my senior year to prevent having “senior-itis”. Having soccer has helped me to keep connected to the school. Also Coach Evaul has helped me a lot in my life, and what I’ll take from soccer to college with me is the importance of staying focused on my goals, and to make right decisions. Coach has always pressed us to make the right decisions and have a goal in life and achieve it, no matter how hard it is.

EP: As a player the past four years, I can tell that my skill has increased. I only played forward when I was younger, and I had the opportunity to play several different positions on the field which helped me to become a better player. Playing those positions helped me to have a greater appreciation for my teammates and the work they do. Hayden is so right in what she said. The lessons Coach Evaul gives us in his lessons are life lessons, and he challenged us to take the lessons we learn with us. He’s brought motivation and faith into the lessons and he has been great. He even wears a necklace he found on the bus with Tinkerbell on it. On the back it reads “Believe in the Magic”. Coach Evaul doesn’t normally wear jewelry, but he’s wearing it for the rest of the season. Everything about playing this season with this team has been memorable.

AJ-T: Is there anything you’d like to add about your experience?

HB: I think all the girls would say that our coach has showed us how much he cares about competing and winning matches. But he has shown us more how he cares for each of us. Without a doubt Coach Evaul cares a lot about us and will do anything for us. That makes him such a great coach.

EP: I’ve heard of coaches who constantly yell at players and push them and put them down. Coach Evaul doesn’t do that. We both appreciate how gentle he is with his players. I think that’s what makes us play so well.

Special thanks to Elyse and Hayden for their time in the compilation of this story, and congratulations to both of them on terrific prep careers at Avery High School!

Vikings Compete in Conference Track Meet, Prep for 1A Regional

This past Wednesday the Vikings traveled to Polk County for the Western Highlands Conference meet.

Avery had only one individual conference champion at the meet, sophomore Alex Villanueva who brought home first in the 110 meter hurdles event with a time of 15.71 seconds.

A myriad of other events were entered by Viking student-athletes. Below are the team results, as well as a rundown of the events the Big Red competed in and times or distances recorded.

BOYS Team Results:
Hendersonville 194.5; Polk County 169; Owen 86; Madison 56; Avery County 53; Mountain Heritage 44; Mitchell 41; Thomas Jefferson 28.
GIRLS Team Results:
Polk County 169.5; Owen 153; Hendersonville 123; Madison 72; Mountain Heritage 62.5; Mitchell 53; Avery County 22; Thomas Jefferson 11.

Event
Participant, Time or Distance, overall place (if noted)
4x800m relay:
Male: Cody Estes, Justin Gragg, Casey Mitchell, Zack Russ – 10 min., 22.68 sec.
110 Meter Hurdles:
Male: Alex Villanueva (1^st overall): 15.71 sec.
Discus Throw:
Male: Lucas Lecka (11^th overall) distance of 101 ft., 1 in.; Kyle Greene (13^th overall) 84 ft., 3.5 in; Brandon Huff (17^th overall) 78 ft.
Female: Sara Wiseman (6^th overall): 71 ft, 9 in.
100 Meter Dash:
Male: Kyle Griewisch (2^nd overall) 11.43 sec. (.04 seconds behind winner Daniel Orr of Hendersonville)
Female: Logan Johnson (13^th overall) – 14.63 sec.
High Jump:
Male: Alex Villanueva (2^nd overall) 6 ft.; Female: Christy Ray (7^th overall) – 4 ft.,6 in.
4x200m relay:
Male: Andy Gonzalez, Bryce Pittman, Taylor Potter, Hunter Shields-1 min., 40.64 sec. (5^th overall)
1600 meter run:
Male: Justin Gragg (12^th overall) – 5 min., 34.94 sec.; Zack Russ: 7 min., 35.44 sec (20^th overall)
4x100 meter relay:
Male: Andy Gonzalez, Kyle Griewisch, Hunter Shields, Alex Villanueva) – 45.99 sec. (3^rd overall)
Female: Avery (Angela Brocco, Logan Johnson, Heather McFee, Christy Ray): 1 min., 6.28 sec. (8^th overall)
Shot Put:
Male: Lucas Lecka – 37 ft. (11^th overall); Brandon Huff: 35 ft., 3.5 in. (13^th overall);
Kyle Greene: 28 ft., 7 in. (20^th overall)
Female:
Sara Wiseman: 29 ft., 10 in. (4^th overall); Angela Brocco: 14 ft., 11 in. (17^th overall); Alesia Yarber: 13 ft., 9 in. (18^th overall)
300 meter hurdles
Male: Alex Villanueva - 45.51 sec. (4^th overall)
Female: Caroline Crenshaw 51.05 sec. (5^th overall); Heather McFee: 1 min., 13.49 sec. (17^th overall)
200 meter dash
Male: Kyle Griewisch: 22.98 sec. (2^nd overall); Andy Gonzalez 25.06 sec. (12^th overall);
Hunter Shields: 25.08 sec. (13^th overall)
Female: Caroline Crenshaw: 29.48 seconds (7^th overall)
800 meter run
Men: Justin Gragg: 2 min., 36.04 sec. (16^th overall); Zack Russ: 2 min., 43.54 sec. (22^nd overall)
3200 meter run
Men: Justin Gragg: 12 min., 13.64 sec. (8^th overall)
4x400 meter relay
Male: Cody Estes, Andy Gonzalez, Bryce Pittman, Taylor Potter: 4 min., 11.13 sec. (8^th overall)
100 Meter Hurdles Female: Caroline Crenshaw: 19.07 sec. (5^th overall)

Based on performances throughout this season, the following athletes have qualified for this week’s meet at Cherokee High School, with qualified event(s):
Ladies:
Caroline Crenshaw – 300 meter hurdles, 200 meter run
Mary Chesnut Smith – 800 meter run & 1600 meter run
Christy Ray - high jump
Megan Robbins – 100 meter run, high jump
Sara Wiseman - shot put
4 x 100 meter relay team– (Angela Brocco, Logan Johnson, Heather McFee, Christy Ray)
Gentlemen:
Kyle Griewich – 100 meter run & 200 meter run
Alex Villanueva – 110 meter hurdles, 300 meter hurdles & high jump
4 x 100 meter relay team (Kyle Griewich, Alex Villanueva, Andy Gonzalez, Dustin Clarke,
Hunter Shields (four will race with one alternate)
4 x 800 meter relay team (Cody Estes, Justin Gragg, Casey Mitchell, Zack Russ)
4 x 200 meter relay team (Andy Gonzalez, Bryce Pittman, Taylor Potter, Hunter Shields)

The Vikings overall had a great showing at the conference meet and look poised to have a solid regional championship and several potential racers at next weekend’s state championships in Greensboro.

“Our track team has performed well this year in spite of our late start. All of our athletes improved their times throughout the year, with most posting personal record times during the season. Our men performed well at the conference meet, with one champion, and our ladies team suffered in team score due to the absence of our dual-sport athletes who were competing in a soccer game on the same day,” Avery track and field coach Stacey Clark said after the tournament. “All of our athletes qualifying for regional have a chance for success and advancement to the state meet. Those who participated in the state meet last year are positioned to return again this year.”

Best of luck to the Big Red this week at the 1A Western Regional in Cherokee!

Avery Baseball Battered by Polk, Comes Up Short in Rally against Madison

Last Thursday the Avery varsity baseball team hosted defending conference champion Polk County in a game postponed by rain earlier in the week. A big third inning from the Wolverines propelled them to a 18-4 win over Avery. On Friday the Vikings hosted Madison. Avery rallied late but miscues doomed the Big Red in a 17-11 eight-inning defeat.

In Thursday’s game with the Wolverines the teams played through a scoreless first inning. In the top of the second, Polk plated four runs on four hits to draw first blood.

Avery threatened to answer in the bottom of the frame, but stranded runners on base and had a runner thrown out at home to stay scoreless.

In the top of the third inning Polk broke the game wide open as 12 batters came to the plate the squad scored seven times to take a commanding 11-0 advantage.

Avery cut slightly into the lead in the bottom of the third when lead-off hitter Daniel Huff blasted a solo home run to put the Vikings on the board.

Polk County tacked on three runs in the fourth and four runs in the fifth inning to put the contest away for good. The lone bright spot for the Vikings in the final two frames came when designated hitter Luke Pittman blasted a three-run home run to left center to provide for the final margin of defeat.

“We didn’t get beat as badly and played better than our last meeting. We played well defensively and at times we had a hard time throwing strikes that hurt us,” Vikings head baseball coach Benny Wellborn said after the game. “We put the ball in play and had multiple occasions where we could have scored as many as ten runs. It’s hard to keep a team like Polk down.”

On Friday evening the Vikings tried to bounce back with a home game against Madison.

Jared Clark took the mound for Avery and was dominant early, striking out the side to start the game.

Things continued to bode well for Avery in the bottom of the frame as Danny Cole led off the frame with a solo home run to put the Vikings ahead 1-0. The Vikings worked around an error in the second inning to prevent a run from scoring, then offensively added a second run in the bottom of the frame when Luke Pittman doubled and scored on an RBI single by Cole.

In the third inning the Patriots got its offense going with three runs. A walk, a hit batsman, and three consecutive singles, all with two outs, put Madison out in front 3-2.

The Patriot lead did not last long, however. A Jack Buchanan two-out double started a rally that included four straight hits, scoring Buchanan and pinch runner Dustin Childress, helping the Vikings to a 4-3 edge.

A big fourth inning, paced by a pair of home runs and four consecutive singles with two outs gave the team from Marshall the momentum as well as a 9-3 edge.

Cole and Ethan Sluder each walked to lead off the bottom of the inning, and Daniel Huff plated both runners with a base hit to cut the Madison lead to 9-6.

The teams played a scoreless fifth inning, but Madison was not quieted for long, scoring a pair of runs in the sixth to take an 11-6 lead. Avery was held scoreless until the bottom of the seventh inning, when the bats awakened for a stirring rally. The Vikings rapped six base hits in the inning and scored five times. The winning run was stranded at second base, but Avery had dramatically tied the contest at 11-11.

In the first extra inning of play, Madison sent 11 batters to the plate and tallied six runs. Key fielding errors hurt the Vikings at pivotal points during the game, times the Patriots took advantage of to carry another lead into the final inning.

In the bottom of the eighth Madison struck out three straight Vikings to close out the contest.

Avery committed 11 errors in the game. “Bottom line is making routine plays over seven innings wins a ballgame. We had a batting practice pitcher throwing to us and we should have put up a lot more runs,” a disappointed Coach Wellborn said after the loss. “I thought we would win in the seventh inning, but that’s the way the ball bounces sometimes.”

The Vikings hosted Mountain Heritage on Tuesday on Senior Day and won a thrilling 6-5 contest. Seniors Jack Buchanan, Justin Buchanan, Jared Clark, Danny Cole, Steven Daniels, Daniel Huff, Luke Pittman, and Ethan Sluder were recognized prior to the contest.

Back-to back home runs from Ethan Sluder and Daniel Huff staked Avery to an early lead. Avery picked up a key insurance run in the sixth inning to build a three-run advantage at 6-3. Heritage had a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, but Avery reliever Jared Clark closed the door for the save, preserving the win for starter Steven Daniels.

“When we were down in the seventh we showed the ability to come back from behind. We’ve just got to stay away from big innings that have hurt us all season and continue to do so.”

Avery travels to Mitchell Friday afternoon for the team's regular season finale. The win on Tuesday likely clinched a 1A state playoff spot for the Vikings, but the team wants to end the regular season slate with a win streak at the expense of the Mountaineers.

Vikings Diamond Notes

The Avery varsity softball team took on two of the tougher foes in the Western Highlands Conference when it hosted the Polk County Lady Wolverines last Thursday and Madison last Friday afternoon. Avery fell 11-0 to the Lady Wolverines and 23-0 in Friday’s contest with the visiting Lady Patriots.

In Thursday’s contest, Polk County used the strategy of bunting with the top of its lineup to force the Lady Vikings into hurried defensive plays. The Big Red was successful at times at keeping runners off the base paths, but the Wolverines still managed four first inning runs.

Avery struggled to put the bat on the ball as Polk starter Jamie Hrobak was effective with a variety of pitches. The Polk offense charged up over the next two innings to score six runs, while the Lady Vikings were unable to mount an offensive answer and rally. The Lady Wolverines added only one run total in the final two innings, but managed to take the win in five innings via the ten-run mercy rule.

“Polk is a tough team. We played better against them than we did in our first meeting, but they are disciplined hitters and base runners. They play solid defensively,” Lady Vikings head coach Stephen Bunger said after the game. “Their pitcher did a good job to shut us down. We played hard, but they put up a strong performance.”

The following afternoon the Lady Vikings hosted the Madison Lady Patriots. Madison star pitcher Laurel Gragg may have graduated, but the Lady Patriots showed they still had firepower to contend with. Madison brought its hitting shoes on the road with them Friday in taking home a victory.

Avery’s lone hit for the contest came off the bat of senior Jessica Banner.

“The varsity played hard on Friday, but Madison was a strong opponent. Madison came ready to hit the ball,” Coach Bunger stated. “We made a few costly errors that put us in some rough spots. We are still having trouble avoiding the one big inning, but overall we played hard. We didn't hit the ball particularly well, but we got a few runners on with walks. We just couldn't seem to bring them across the plate.”

In junior varsity action, the Lady Vikings fell to Polk, but played well in a 5-2 loss to the Lady Patriots JVs on Friday afternoon. Brittany Brewer got the starting nod inside the circle and did a tremendous job of holding down the usually strong Madison offense.

“The JV's played a much tighter contest than the previous Madison game. Brittney pitched really well. We threatened several times with runners on base, sometimes with the bases loaded, but we just couldn't get the timely hit to bring the runners home,” Coach Bunger said after the game. “We hit the ball well and ran the bases well overall we just needed one or two more timely hits. Madison is a good team with good coaching and they came ready to hit the ball, but overall I was pleased with the effort from both teams.”

The Lady Vikings are busy with three games this week to close out the regular season schedule. The team hosted Mountain Heritage on Tuesday, then will host Cloudland (TN) this afternoon (Wednesday, May 5^th) for Senior Day, where seniors Jessica Banner, Amber Clark, Kaylea Davis, and Haley Hicks will be playing in their final home contest. Avery will travel to play neighboring rival Mitchell in Ledger on Friday afternoon.

Last week the Avery junior varsity baseball team tangled with the Polk Wolverines on Thursday and the Madison Patriots in home contest. In Thursday’s game Avery had hard time with the hot bats of Polk, falling 22-1 to the Wolverines in four innings. Due to the extra-inning varsity game preceding Friday’s matchup, the junior varsity managed only three innings against the Patriots, but came away with a 6-3 victory for its fifth win of the season.

Avery managed only four hits off a tough Polk County pitching staff. The Big Red tallied its only run in the bottom of the third when Bennett Sweat reached on an error, stole second base, and scored on a base hit from teammate Dillon Nelson.

Friday’s game was a much happier occasion for the Avery faithful. The junior varsity team was looking for the season sweep over Madison, having beaten the Patriots weeks earlier in Marshall.

Vikings right-hander Bennett Sweat gave up a pair of first-inning hits, but worked out of trouble without surrendering a run. In the bottom of the inning the Vikings put up three runs to take the early lead. Sweat helped his own cause with a double and later scored on a passed ball. Dillon Nelson walked, then teammate Dustin Clark belted a double to right centerfield helping to plate Nelson for the game’s second run. Clark himself scored later in the frame on a throwing error.

Madison got on the board in the second inning on a base hit, a passed ball, and an Avery error to cut the lead to 3-1. The Vikings got the run back in the bottom of the inning when Sweat belted his second double and scored on a Ty McCoury RBI single.

The run proved huge for Avery, as in the third and final inning Madison scored a pair on a two-run home run to left field to cut the Avery lead to 4-3. The Vikings prevented any further damage to preserve its lead. The managers agreed to allow the teams to play the bottom of the inning before darkness stopped the game, despite the home team holding the lead. Avery teammates Tyler Edwards and Ian Franklin both singled, and Lane Smith reached on a hit.

In the final play of the game Smith rounded third to score, but a good relay throw was caught by the catcher ahead of Smith’s arrival. The Avery catcher catapulted over the catcher and appeared to touch the plate safely, but the umpire ruled him out for the final out of the contest to close the game.

“Madison started a kid who hadn’t pitched a game, but he threw strikes. We had several guys step up and pick up big hits for us,” Avery junior varsity baseball coach Samuel Phillips said following the win. “We’ve made strides offensively and we were able to make routine plays, something that has killed us throughout the season.”

Sweat picked up the win on the mound in a complete-game effort.

“Tonight’s win was great. I’m proud of the kids. They had a tough game earlier this week with a good Polk team with a strong baseball tradition. We aren’t the biggest team in the world, but this season has been a roller coaster. It’s a little frustrating because there have been games and times where we’ve made the routine plays, pitched well, and hit the ball, and there have been others when we haven’t. For the most part, I’m pretty pleased with how tonight turned out.”

Baseball will play games this week against Mountain Heritage, and close its season on Friday with a game at Mitchell.

Lady Vikings Soccer Back on Winning Track

Following its first loss of the season last week at the hands of Polk County, the Avery Lady Vikings soccer squad played with renewed vigor and intensity. Avery blanked Madison last Wednesday, played a talented Providence Academy (TN) team to a 1-1 tie, and defeated the Mountain Heritage Lady Cougars.

Avery had the privilege of tangling with the Lady Patriots of Madison at Meares Stadium on the campus of Mars Hill College on April 28th, shortening the team’s road trip and giving the team the familiar synthetic turf surface the team is used to playing on back in Newland. The confines were friendly indeed, as Avery captured a 9-0 win.

For the first 20 minutes of the opening half, the Lady Vikings worked to get into a rhythm offensively. The team had scored only one goal over the previous three matches. In the 21st minute, senior Elyse Perry got the Vikings going with the first score, assisted by junior Mary Chesnut Smith. Seven minutes later, Perry received the corner kick from Smith and got it to sophomore Hannah Washburn who scored the second goal. The goal was the first of the season for Washburn.

Just three minutes later, in the 31st minute, Smith scored a goal of her own, assisted by Emily Banner. The rest of the half was scoreless and Avery carried a 3-0 advantage at intermission.

Finishing, good passes and a plan to continue playing the bench in order to get them more game experience was goals for the second half. An emphasis on good finishes was stressed, not so much to score in this game, but to play smarter in the close games.

Six minutes into the second half, first year player Brooke Whittington, starting in place of the injured Arden Stanley, ran down the ball which was behind the Madison defense and crossed it to Banner, who found herself in traffic. Banner dropped the ball back to Perry who scored with her left foot, her second goal of the evening.

Less than a minute later, stopper Katelynn Eudy sent a long pass forward to Banner, who ran the ball in and placed it behind the keeper to make the score 5-0. In the 51st minute, Banner scored again, with an assist from Smith. Five minutes later, Smith brought the ball up the sideline and crossed it in to Melinda Eggers who scored in the 56th minute. Under two minutes later, Perry assisted Smith on her second goal of the evening.

With more subs playing at a time and some of the back line playing forward, it was not until the 76th minute of the game before Avery struck again. Normally playing outside back, junior Kaley Faulkner was moved forward and put her speed to good use, taking a pass from Eggers to score her first goal of the season. Keeper Mercedes Bentley rarely touched the ball on the evening, and earned another shutout. This was the tenth Viking shutout over a total of 15 games. The Big Red took 20 shots in the first half, scoring on three, and peeled 6 goals which were scored out of 25 shots on goal.

On Friday afternoon, the Lady Vikings traveled to Johnson City to take on the Providence Academy Lady Knights. Providence entered the match with an impressive 9-2-2 overall record. Although the Avery squad did not play to its best for the game, the Lady Vikings managed to leave Johnson City with a 1-1 tie.

The hectic recent portion of the regular season schedule seemed to take a slight toll on the
players. Some of the girls would get some energy at the same time, but not the whole team at one time which made it difficult to score.

The Lady Knights took advantage and tallied the first goal of the match as Rachael Boswell assisted on a shot by Kyler Williams early in the match to take the 1-0 lead.

Even after the Providence Academy Lady Knights got the early goal the girls couldn't get a lot going and trailed 1-0 at halftime.

Well into the second half, off a set piece, Avery finally got on the scoreboard. Mary Chesnut Smith crossed the ball in to the goal face, where Arden Stanley was ready and waiting for the put-in.

Try as they may, the Lady Vikings were not able to score a go-ahead goal, but the defense kept Providence silenced for the remainder of the match. The field, although the best looking grass field the team has seen this year, would still grab the ball and it would throw the girls off, causing many miss kicks and stumbles.

Both teams’ defenses were tough all game long, and neither team budged as the match ended in a deadlock.

Avery moved to 13-1-1, and are 9-1-1 in conference play.

On Monday evening, the Big Red hosted the Lady Cougars from Mountain Heritage. Avery took control early and often en route to an 8-0 shutout of its Yancey County visitor.

The Lady Vikings, enjoying the cooler air and home field, got on the scoreboard early and often in the first half. Elyse Perry wore many hats during the evening, singing the National Anthem before the game and then assisting on the first two goals and scoring the third.

One minute into the game, Perry got the ball to Emily Banner for the first score of the
evening. At the 20 minute mark of the opening half, Perry assisted Melinda Eggers who took an accurate shot that sailed past the keeper.

In the 24th minute, Banner assisted Perry on the third goal of the evening. Just seconds later, Katelynn Eudy assisted Mary Chesnut Smith for the first of two goals. Four minutes later, Smith took a pass in the air from Eggers and blistered the ball into the back of the net for the final tally of the half.

After a couple games where the coaches just didn't know what to say to get the girls pumped up, they didn't need to say much at all tonight. The girls were aggressively going to the ball, playing good team ball and taking smarter shots on goal.

Avery head coach Tom Evaul substituted freely both halves and toward the end of the first half and most of the second half. With the game solidly in hand, the game within the game was to get Hayden Blackburn, senior sweeper, in the scorebook.

She has played deep in the defensive end of the field most of her high school career and had never tallied a goal in her high school career. She had several excellent opportunities as her teammates tried to get her the ball as much as possible. The fans were getting into the effort too.

As in the first half, Banner scored the first goal of the second half, this time in the 45th minute off a corner kick by Smith. Banner set up teammate Eggers with a precise pass, which Eggers struck into the goal in netting the second goal in each half.

Less than a minute later, freshman Savannah Perry flicked the ball with her head to Hannah Washburn, who was in front of the goal. Washburn got her knee on the ball
and scored the eighth and final goal of the night.

Five different Lady Vikings scored goals during the victory, with Banner, Eggers and Smith putting in two apiece. Washburn and Perry each scored once, while Perry assisted on a pair of goals. Besides the elder Perry, Banner also had two assists, with one helper each from Eggers, Katelynn Eudy, Savannah Perry and Mary Chesnut Smith.

Avery goal keeper Mercedes Bentley recorded her 11th shut-out of the season as the Lady Vikings moved to 14-1-2, with a 10-1-1 mark in conference play.

The Lady Vikings continued its winning ways with a 4-0 win over Mitchell on Wednesday. Avery will return to the pitch with a match Friday against Thomas Jefferson at 6:30 p.m. It will be the final home game for a pair of seniors, and the Lady Viking program will honor Elyse Perry and Hayden Blackburn for Senior Night this Friday evening at MacDonald Stadium The match with TJCA will be an electric atmosphere and the match will determine the Western Highlands Conference regular season championship and if Avery will host a first-round soccer playoff match next Wednesday.

Avery Lady Vikings Soccer Statistics (through 17 games as of 5/3/10):

Goals: Mary Chesnut Smith (25), Emily Banner (14), Elyse Perry (12), Melinda Eggers (10), Arden Stanley (7*-played in only 13 games), Katelynn Eudy (3) Assists: Smith (23), Banner (19), Eggers (12), Eudy (9), Perry (6) Defense: Avery and junior goalkeeper Mercedes Bentley has recorded 11 shutouts in 17 games this season. Avery has outscored opponents 79-7 in total for the 2010 season to date.

Avery Golf Competes at 1A West Regional Tournament, Mitchell Team Qualifies

On Monday morning three members of the Avery men’s golf team traveled to Kings Mountain’s Woodbridge Golf Course to compete in the NCHSAA 1A Western Regional Tournament.

The Viking trio of Chase Watson, Ethan Buchanan, and Shea Buchanan took to the course in hopes of qualifying for the state championships May 10 and 11 at Longleaf Golf and Country Club in Southern Pines.

Watson, the team captain, was stellar in his round on a damp and breezy course. The senior carded a 77, the third-lowest round of the day, to move on to state competition.

The lowest round of the day was a 68 shot by Highland Tech’s Greg Bunner (the 1A state individual champion last year), while Mitchell senior standout Thomas Buchanan fired a 74 for the second-lowest round to earn a spot in the state tournament. Buchanan and his teammates fired a combined score of 343 to qualify as a team for the state championships. The Mountaineers, in addition to Lake Norman Charter and Highland Tech, will represent the 1A West as teams in next week’s state championship round.

In addition to Watson for the Big Red, teammate Shea Buchanan, the youngest of the trio of Avery golfers, shot 86 for the round, while Ethan Buchanan carded a 97 for the 18-hole round.

“The conditions were tough. The fairways were wet and there was lots of rain,” Avery golf coach Boe Barinowski said after the tournament. “All three of our golfers fought to the last shot on the 18^th hole and finished strong.”

Despite the distance from home, the Avery players received a great deal of support from family and friends as they strived to earn a coveted spot at Longleaf.

“There was a good deal of family supporting the players today,” Barinowski stated. “They were there rooting for all the players, and there was even representation from Mountain Glen who came to support the kids. We’re grateful to both the families and to Mountain Glen for their support this season.”

Best of luck to Chase in next week’s state championships!