Wesleyan boots HPCA for 5-1 win
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian applied consistent pressure from the start, and eventually began pulling away.
The Trojans controlled much of the opening 50 minutes, scored the first four goals of the game and rolled past rival High Point Christian 5-1 in PACIS 2A/3A girls soccer Tuesday at the High Point Athletic Complex’s Ray Correll-John Morris Field.
“We just really enjoyed the competition that High Point Christian provided,” Wesleyan coach Harry Sherwood said. “It’s really neat to see two schools with similar stories come alongside each other, bring out the best in one another and compete with them instead of against them.
“I think our success came from the 11 girls on the field concentrating on their role for their team and just giving as much as they could toward the team goal. It took all 11 of them to achieve that. We’ve enjoyed the start of conference play – it’s coming thick and fast. So, we’re enjoying the opportunity to test ourselves.”
Timber Powell, Taylor Kyle, Karly Beck, Audrey Ann Beck and Kaylee Hamblen each scored for the Trojans (6-1-3 overall, 3-0 PACIS), who is ranked No. 6 among NCISAA 3A teams. Hamblin also had two assists, while Grace McNairy and Madi Kyle each had one.
Wesleyan possessed the ball well through the first half and created a number of opportunities. But the Cougars’ defense, anchored by goalkeeper Nadia Threatt, limited it to well-defended looks for long stretches.
Eventually, though, the chances started finding the net. Taylor Kyle scored off a long free kick in the sixth minute, and Audrey Ann Beck scored off a run down the left side in the 35th minute to help the Trojans lead 2-0 into halftime. In the second nhalf, Hamblen scored on a header in the 45th minute, and Karly Beck followed with a shot atop the box in the 48th minute.Powell scored the game’s final goal in the 77th minute, settling and scoring off a corner kick.
“We felt really good,” senior forward Audrey Ann Beck said. “We just tried to play as a team. But even though we’re playing against High Point Christian, we stillwanted to glorify God with them.
“We just wanted to control the ball and play to feet. We tried a new formation, and it worked really well. We’re just trying to get wide and score. We’re playing reallywell right now and I feel like our team chemistry is awesome.”
Kelly Vickers scored in the 75th minute off an assist by McKenzie Mathis for HPCA (6-4-1, 0-1), ranked No. 8 among NCISAA 3A teams. For much of the fi nal 30 minutes, after Wesleyan mostly held the edge to that point, the Cougars shifted play a bit more in their favor, which helped lead to the goal
“I think we played well,” HPCA coach Austin Beck said. “For us, we’re looking beyond the score. We asked our girls for 80 minutes of ef fort and hard work, and they gave it to us. That’s what we’re concerned about: how we play, the effort we give and how hard we’re willing to work.
“I told girls after the game that, from the first whistle to the end, we got better – absolutely we got better.
About 15 minutes into the second half, we changed our formation and the ball started to live more in our attacking end. And we scored a great goal off some hard work. So, I’m pleased with how we’ve come along.
” Threatt finished with eight saves in goal for the Cougars, who next play Thursday at Greensboro Day. Regan Williams tallied four saves in goal for the Trojans, who visit North Raleigh Christian on Thursday
BY MICHAEL LINDSAY
ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan Christian applied consistent pressure from the start, and eventually began pulling away.
The Trojans controlled much of the opening 50 minutes, scored the first four goals of the game and rolled past rival High Point Christian 5-1 in PACIS 2A/3A girls soccer Tuesday at the High Point Athletic Complex’s Ray Correll-John Morris Field.
“We just really enjoyed the competition that High Point Christian provided,” Wesleyan coach Harry Sherwood said. “It’s really neat to see two schools with similar stories come alongside each other, bring out the best in one another and compete with them instead of against them.
“I think our success came from the 11 girls on the field concentrating on their role for their team and just giving as much as they could toward the team goal. It took all 11 of them to achieve that. We’ve enjoyed the start of conference play – it’s coming thick and fast. So, we’re enjoying the opportunity to test ourselves.”
Timber Powell, Taylor Kyle, Karly Beck, Audrey Ann Beck and Kaylee Hamblen each scored for the Trojans (6-1-3 overall, 3-0 PACIS), who is ranked No. 6 among NCISAA 3A teams. Hamblin also had two assists, while Grace McNairy and Madi Kyle each had one.
Wesleyan possessed the ball well through the first half and created a number of opportunities. But the Cougars’ defense, anchored by goalkeeper Nadia Threatt, limited it to well-defended looks for long stretches.
Eventually, though, the chances started finding the net. Taylor Kyle scored off a long free kick in the sixth minute, and Audrey Ann Beck scored off a run down the left side in the 35th minute to help the Trojans lead 2-0 into halftime. In the second nhalf, Hamblen scored on a header in the 45th minute, and Karly Beck followed with a shot atop the box in the 48th minute.Powell scored the game’s final goal in the 77th minute, settling and scoring off a corner kick.
“We felt really good,” senior forward Audrey Ann Beck said. “We just tried to play as a team. But even though we’re playing against High Point Christian, we stillwanted to glorify God with them.
“We just wanted to control the ball and play to feet. We tried a new formation, and it worked really well. We’re just trying to get wide and score. We’re playing reallywell right now and I feel like our team chemistry is awesome.”
Kelly Vickers scored in the 75th minute off an assist by McKenzie Mathis for HPCA (6-4-1, 0-1), ranked No. 8 among NCISAA 3A teams. For much of the fi nal 30 minutes, after Wesleyan mostly held the edge to that point, the Cougars shifted play a bit more in their favor, which helped lead to the goal
“I think we played well,” HPCA coach Austin Beck said. “For us, we’re looking beyond the score. We asked our girls for 80 minutes of ef fort and hard work, and they gave it to us. That’s what we’re concerned about: how we play, the effort we give and how hard we’re willing to work.
“I told girls after the game that, from the first whistle to the end, we got better – absolutely we got better.
About 15 minutes into the second half, we changed our formation and the ball started to live more in our attacking end. And we scored a great goal off some hard work. So, I’m pleased with how we’ve come along.
” Threatt finished with eight saves in goal for the Cougars, who next play Thursday at Greensboro Day. Regan Williams tallied four saves in goal for the Trojans, who visit North Raleigh Christian on Thursday
