Charlotte Latin eliminates Wesleyan soccer
BY GREER SMITH ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan kept making plays and giving itself a chance until making one slip Tuesday.
Charlotte Latin took advantage. The favored Hawks, ranked No. 2 among all North Carolina teams by MaxPreps, scored on a one-and-one breakaway with just over four minutes left in regulation and held on for a 1-0 victory in the semifinals of the NCISAA 4A girls soccer playoffs at Wesleyan’s field.
“It could have happened earlier than that,” Trojans coach Sarah Denton said. “But the girls held on tight. It was just a bit of a breakdown and they are a team that will execute on it.”
Latin got the ball near midfield. Hawks forward Mary Gale Goodwin eventually broke past the Wesleyan defense, dribbled into the box and fired a shot into the net.
“I thought the defense was outstanding before and after that,” Denton said. “We let the one slip through. We said the minute we were off our guard that would happen. I couldn’t ask for our girls to do any more than they did. They did all we asked them to do. They stuck to our plan.
“That’s how the chips fall. We had some opportunities and I thought maybe we would get one. The girls did exactly what we told them to do. The coaches brought up some great points and made some great adjustments.”
Wesleyan, which is ranked 26th in the state by MaxPreps, ends the season 12-2. The Trojans weathered the Hawks’ offensive pressure in the opening minutes of each half and eventually settled in starting generating offensive opportunities.
“We knew that was coming,” Denton said. “We wanted to weather the storm and create a bit of a storm also. Everything was spot on. There were no surprises (from Latin). I told the girls if they weren’t totally here today, I felt like (a win) couldn’t happen. I thought they were all here today. If they were all here, maybe we go overtime, maybe they go up 1-0, maybe we go up 1-0.
“We were trying to push late in the match. We felt our legs wouldn’t hold up in overtime so we were trying to push. And sometimes you sacrifice some things.”
Kayla Burroughs, Wesleyan’s main offensive threat, managed to outmaneuver the Hawks defense and get off at least six shots, with at least three stopped by Hawks’ keeper (one on a tip over the net).
At times, Burroughs had at least three defenders around her. Burroughs got off a few shots later in the match.
“Kudos to them for having a plan for her,” Denton said. “She continued to keep going in the midst of getting kicked here, falling there. They did a great job. But that’s showing a lot of respect for her, needing four or five people to shut her down.”
Wesleyan keeper Kloe Totel made at least six saves.
“She made some phenomenal saves,” Denton said. “She’s been great all season and there’s nothing she could have done (to stop the winning goal).”
Charlotte Latin (16-2) moves on to the championship match on Saturday.
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BY GREER SMITH ENTERPRISE SPORTS WRITER
HIGH POINT — Wesleyan kept making plays and giving itself a chance until making one slip Tuesday.
Charlotte Latin took advantage. The favored Hawks, ranked No. 2 among all North Carolina teams by MaxPreps, scored on a one-and-one breakaway with just over four minutes left in regulation and held on for a 1-0 victory in the semifinals of the NCISAA 4A girls soccer playoffs at Wesleyan’s field.
“It could have happened earlier than that,” Trojans coach Sarah Denton said. “But the girls held on tight. It was just a bit of a breakdown and they are a team that will execute on it.”
Latin got the ball near midfield. Hawks forward Mary Gale Goodwin eventually broke past the Wesleyan defense, dribbled into the box and fired a shot into the net.
“I thought the defense was outstanding before and after that,” Denton said. “We let the one slip through. We said the minute we were off our guard that would happen. I couldn’t ask for our girls to do any more than they did. They did all we asked them to do. They stuck to our plan.
“That’s how the chips fall. We had some opportunities and I thought maybe we would get one. The girls did exactly what we told them to do. The coaches brought up some great points and made some great adjustments.”
Wesleyan, which is ranked 26th in the state by MaxPreps, ends the season 12-2. The Trojans weathered the Hawks’ offensive pressure in the opening minutes of each half and eventually settled in starting generating offensive opportunities.
“We knew that was coming,” Denton said. “We wanted to weather the storm and create a bit of a storm also. Everything was spot on. There were no surprises (from Latin). I told the girls if they weren’t totally here today, I felt like (a win) couldn’t happen. I thought they were all here today. If they were all here, maybe we go overtime, maybe they go up 1-0, maybe we go up 1-0.
“We were trying to push late in the match. We felt our legs wouldn’t hold up in overtime so we were trying to push. And sometimes you sacrifice some things.”
Kayla Burroughs, Wesleyan’s main offensive threat, managed to outmaneuver the Hawks defense and get off at least six shots, with at least three stopped by Hawks’ keeper (one on a tip over the net).
At times, Burroughs had at least three defenders around her. Burroughs got off a few shots later in the match.
“Kudos to them for having a plan for her,” Denton said. “She continued to keep going in the midst of getting kicked here, falling there. They did a great job. But that’s showing a lot of respect for her, needing four or five people to shut her down.”
Wesleyan keeper Kloe Totel made at least six saves.
“She made some phenomenal saves,” Denton said. “She’s been great all season and there’s nothing she could have done (to stop the winning goal).”
Charlotte Latin (16-2) moves on to the championship match on Saturday.
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