Knights use second-half rally to beat Chargers
By Andrew Schnittker
The Greenfield and Wilson Christian girls soccer teams delivered a thrilling chapter to the local rivalry on Wilson Christian’s field Friday night, with the Knights capturing a 3-2, come-from-behind victory.
The Lady Chargers delivered a season-opening statement with their ability to hang with an NCISAA 2-A state title contender in Greenfield, as the connection of Maddie Reynell (two goals) and Bri Little (two assists) gave WCA a 2-0 halftime lead.
“I’m extremely pleased with how they played tonight,” said Wilson Christian first-year head coach Jordan Strother after his first game coaching his alma mater. “They didn’t quit. They hustled until the very end. They showed some fight that I don’t think they realized they had.”
The Knights, however, struck for three second-half goals in order to secure the victory to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Darcy Dean notched the game-winning goal for the Knights and assisted on Greenfield’s first goal, with Avery Williams and Yazi Bulluck each also recording a goal and an assist.
“I think in the second half, we really came together and played as a team,” Dean said. “We communicated and connected passes better than the first half.”
The Lady Chargers wasted little time seizing the momentum to start this one, striking just 3:32 into the action.
Little sent a ball across to Reynell, who tapped it past Greenfield goalkeeper Jeallen Holland for the 1-0 lead.
“It was huge,” Strother said. “I really think that’s what the girls needed, to see that goal go in early to help build that confidence and to show them that they are capable of playing really well.”
Wilson Christian executed a strong game plan throughout the rest of the opening 40 minutes, with the backfield, anchored by Little and Chloe Villaverde, doing its best to limit Greenfield’s opportunities.
“Wilson Christian was very opportunistic in the first half,” said Greenfield head coach Randol Mendoza. “They had two shots and they put both shots in the back of the net. So the biggest difference was that they made the best out of every chance they had in the first half. So us playing with a 2-0 at halftime forced us to pay attention to the details that can help turn this thing around.”
The Lady Chargers connected on their only other shot in the first half, with Little again sending a pass up to Reynell, who buried a shot from the top of the 18 to make it 2-0.
“We spaced the ball really well and we moved the ball really well,” Strother said. “We created passes in open space to transition into those offensive goals.”
The second half, however, was all Greenfield.
The Knights dented the scoreboard just 3:38 into the second half, with Williams firing home a pass from Dean to make it 2-1.
Not one minute later, Bulluck took a pass from Williams and buried a top-shelf shot from the top of the box, tying the game at two and tilting momentum to the Knights.
“We were more patient in the buildup of the play,” Mendoza said. “We were able to find each other, find passes in between lines and that to numerical advantages in the attacking third. With a little bit of patient and extra focus, you saw Yazi, Darcy and Avery all get on the score sheet. So it was back to seeing what we had been seeing in the last game.”
With about 22 minutes left, Dean received a feed upfield from Bulluck, dribbled inside the 18 and fired home a shot to give the Knights a lead they would not relinquish.
“Going forward, I think that I’m going to work on getting into space and calling for the ball,” Dean said.
The Lady Chargers did their best to push for the equalizer, but the Knights held on for the victory.
“Wilson Christian did a great job defending,” Mendoza said. “They were organized. It’s always a task in trying to get past Bri Little and Chloe Villaverde. They have some key pieces there that make them take, and they definitely proved that they’re hard to break down.”
Greenfield outshot Wilson Christian 12-3, with Holland making two saves in goal. Skylar Davis made three saves for WCA.
Mendoza said after the game that he was pleased with how his group responded to some early adversity.
“There’s going to plenty of times this season where we’re going to be up against it, and tonight was the first test of many,” Mendoza said. “It asks a little bit more of the players, the teammates. It brings the unity a little bit closer as well because you’re having to fight back and try to get a goal in, get a second goal in to tie the game. So they showed character in coming back.”
The Lady Chargers will now get set to host NCCSA 2-A East Region foe Southside Christian on Monday.
Strother, in his first year as WCA’s head coach after spending last season as an assistant on Don Samson’s staff, expressed excitement about his team’s prospects for this season.
“I feel really good about what this team can accomplish,” Strother said. “I know it’s just one game, but what I saw tonight was glimpses of a really good team.”
Greenfield will visit Coastal Christian on Tuesday, and look forward to welcoming back senior forward Chloe Howard, who missed the team’s first two games for a pre-planned vacation.
“From here, it’s just getting a few practices in to where we’re showing them positions on the field and where we want them to receive balls so we can find teammates, maximize the space and ultimately try to stretch out the opponent as much as possible,” Mendoza said. “But that’ll come with us having a few more sessions where we’re teaching them a little bit more of the build-up play.
By Andrew Schnittker
The Greenfield and Wilson Christian girls soccer teams delivered a thrilling chapter to the local rivalry on Wilson Christian’s field Friday night, with the Knights capturing a 3-2, come-from-behind victory.
The Lady Chargers delivered a season-opening statement with their ability to hang with an NCISAA 2-A state title contender in Greenfield, as the connection of Maddie Reynell (two goals) and Bri Little (two assists) gave WCA a 2-0 halftime lead.
“I’m extremely pleased with how they played tonight,” said Wilson Christian first-year head coach Jordan Strother after his first game coaching his alma mater. “They didn’t quit. They hustled until the very end. They showed some fight that I don’t think they realized they had.”
The Knights, however, struck for three second-half goals in order to secure the victory to improve to 2-0 on the young season.
Darcy Dean notched the game-winning goal for the Knights and assisted on Greenfield’s first goal, with Avery Williams and Yazi Bulluck each also recording a goal and an assist.
“I think in the second half, we really came together and played as a team,” Dean said. “We communicated and connected passes better than the first half.”
The Lady Chargers wasted little time seizing the momentum to start this one, striking just 3:32 into the action.
Little sent a ball across to Reynell, who tapped it past Greenfield goalkeeper Jeallen Holland for the 1-0 lead.
“It was huge,” Strother said. “I really think that’s what the girls needed, to see that goal go in early to help build that confidence and to show them that they are capable of playing really well.”
Wilson Christian executed a strong game plan throughout the rest of the opening 40 minutes, with the backfield, anchored by Little and Chloe Villaverde, doing its best to limit Greenfield’s opportunities.
“Wilson Christian was very opportunistic in the first half,” said Greenfield head coach Randol Mendoza. “They had two shots and they put both shots in the back of the net. So the biggest difference was that they made the best out of every chance they had in the first half. So us playing with a 2-0 at halftime forced us to pay attention to the details that can help turn this thing around.”
The Lady Chargers connected on their only other shot in the first half, with Little again sending a pass up to Reynell, who buried a shot from the top of the 18 to make it 2-0.
“We spaced the ball really well and we moved the ball really well,” Strother said. “We created passes in open space to transition into those offensive goals.”
The second half, however, was all Greenfield.
The Knights dented the scoreboard just 3:38 into the second half, with Williams firing home a pass from Dean to make it 2-1.
Not one minute later, Bulluck took a pass from Williams and buried a top-shelf shot from the top of the box, tying the game at two and tilting momentum to the Knights.
“We were more patient in the buildup of the play,” Mendoza said. “We were able to find each other, find passes in between lines and that to numerical advantages in the attacking third. With a little bit of patient and extra focus, you saw Yazi, Darcy and Avery all get on the score sheet. So it was back to seeing what we had been seeing in the last game.”
With about 22 minutes left, Dean received a feed upfield from Bulluck, dribbled inside the 18 and fired home a shot to give the Knights a lead they would not relinquish.
“Going forward, I think that I’m going to work on getting into space and calling for the ball,” Dean said.
The Lady Chargers did their best to push for the equalizer, but the Knights held on for the victory.
“Wilson Christian did a great job defending,” Mendoza said. “They were organized. It’s always a task in trying to get past Bri Little and Chloe Villaverde. They have some key pieces there that make them take, and they definitely proved that they’re hard to break down.”
Greenfield outshot Wilson Christian 12-3, with Holland making two saves in goal. Skylar Davis made three saves for WCA.
Mendoza said after the game that he was pleased with how his group responded to some early adversity.
“There’s going to plenty of times this season where we’re going to be up against it, and tonight was the first test of many,” Mendoza said. “It asks a little bit more of the players, the teammates. It brings the unity a little bit closer as well because you’re having to fight back and try to get a goal in, get a second goal in to tie the game. So they showed character in coming back.”
The Lady Chargers will now get set to host NCCSA 2-A East Region foe Southside Christian on Monday.
Strother, in his first year as WCA’s head coach after spending last season as an assistant on Don Samson’s staff, expressed excitement about his team’s prospects for this season.
“I feel really good about what this team can accomplish,” Strother said. “I know it’s just one game, but what I saw tonight was glimpses of a really good team.”
Greenfield will visit Coastal Christian on Tuesday, and look forward to welcoming back senior forward Chloe Howard, who missed the team’s first two games for a pre-planned vacation.
“From here, it’s just getting a few practices in to where we’re showing them positions on the field and where we want them to receive balls so we can find teammates, maximize the space and ultimately try to stretch out the opponent as much as possible,” Mendoza said. “But that’ll come with us having a few more sessions where we’re teaching them a little bit more of the build-up play.
