The High County Soccer Association Lady Avalanche ’92 U17 soccer team traveled to Fayetteville, NC to play in the TFC Friendlies College Showcase. Mother Nature made it difficult to get together and practice much prior to the weekend, but most of the team have played together at least two seasons, with some more than that. The girls came from five different high schools: Ashe, Avery, Hibriten, Watauga and Wilkes Central. Representing Avery High School were junior teammates Emily Banner and Mary Chesnut SmithAt the last minute, fields were changed and games shortened due to the recent hard rains in Fayetteville. Unfortunately, the Lady Avalanche still had an 8 AM game on Saturday.
The games Saturday were all 55 minutes, with no half time (and therefore no switching of ends which made it tough on the keepers facing the sun). With temperatures in the high30s and a very damp field, players and parents alike were very cold, and had numb toes at the end of the first game. However, spirits were high as the Lady Avalanche played ragged but tough and managed a 2-0 win over the TFC White. They were from the host club and were ranked 15th in the state. The Lady Avalanche were ranked 13th.
The scoring came in the middle of the game with both goals coming in a four minute period. The first was off the foot of Hallie Hilliard with an assist from fellow forward Kendyl Baird. Almost exactly four minutes later, a pair of midfielders teamed up for the second goal with Kebrina Keys assisting Mary Chesnut Smith for the score.
Hot showers and food were the next order of the day, followed by a 2 PM match in the stadium field back at Reid Ross Classical School. The stadium field was definitely narrow, causing the Lady Avalanche to change their normal mode of play.
All of the scoring in this game came in the first 15 minutes of play. The Avalanche, taking advantage of the narrow field, scored off of two assists by throw-in from Mary Chesnut Smith, who was able to put the ball in front of the goal. The first score came off the head of Kebrina Keys while Hallie Hilliard scored her second goal of the day off the second throw-in.
The 14th ranked CASL Spartan United scored within a minute of the second Avalanche goal. This however was the last score of the game, giving the Avalanche a 2-1 victory. With the temperature in the mid-forties and only a light breeze, the conditions had been better during the
second game.
The two Avalanche captains were selected for the All – Star game Saturday evening. Tired and sore, Bethany Miller and Mary Chesnut Smith joined nine other juniors to play 11 other juniors in a very fast-paced 35 minute game. They said it was one of the hardest games they had ever played in due to the speed of play. Of course, having already played two tough games after a two month lay-off from soccer made them sorer and more tired than normal.
Fortunately their game on Sunday had been postponed an hour, so the team had a little longer to rest before hitting the fields for their 10:30 match-up against what Coach Kiki thought would be the toughest game of the weekend for the team. Although the Maryland team was officially unranked, their record was good and other coaches said they were a physical team.
The Avalanche came mentally and physically prepared for a tough game and got on the score board first. In the 15th minute of the first 30 minute half, midfielder Mary Chesnut Smith was able to send the ball to the back of the net from about 20 yards out, placing it just over the keeper’s hands. In the 23rd minute the Maryland Matrix were able to get one off the fingers of the Avalanche keeper Caitlin Curley.
The Avalanche answered in the next minute, when Avery teammates connected. Emily Banner crossed the ball to Smith who powered the ball past the keeper to make the score 2-1, where it stayed for the rest of the half. In the second minute of the second half, the Matrix found a way to get past Avalanche keeper Mary Kate Huffman to tie the score.
Not to be outdone, the Avalanche took the lead again within the next minute, Hallie Hilliard passed the ball to Kendyl Baird who dropped it to Smith, who was able to take the ball through traffic and get the ball past the keeper to score for the hat trick. The score remained 3-2 until the 25th minute of the half when the Matrix got past their defenders and sailed a ball over the keeper’s hands to tie the score.
Play remained intense with the score knotted at 3-3 and time running down. With just a minute left in the game, the Matrix found a way to take the lead for the first time of the day, but it was to be the time that counted as the Lady Avalanche were not able to answer that goal before time ran out.
It was a good game, but a hard one to swallow after leading most of the game and dominating the play for the most part.
For the weekend, both Avery representatives had a solid performance. Smith scored four goals over the weekend and contributed in all but one Avalanche goal. Banner played extensively for the Avalanche, spending a good portion of the weekend playing defense, but also spent time at the forward position.
The showcase was an opportunity for college coaches and scouts to watch the best prep soccer standouts from across the state and region. The weekend performance by the Avalanche was viewed by multiple schools including Elon University. ?
Congratulations to the Avalanche and Lady Vikings Emily Banner and Mary Chesnut Smith on a successful weekend!
