HPCA soccer edges Westchester, 1-0
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian, through its ups and downs, did what it needed to win a hard-fought rivalry match.
The Cougars kept the pressure up early, eventually netting a goal, then held on late as they played down a player to beat crosstown rival Westchester Country Day 1-0 in PTAC girls soccer on a drizzly Tuesday evening at the High Point Athletic Complex’s Correll-Morris Field.
“I thought we were OK,” HPCA coach Austin Beck said. “It was a slow start in the first half. We got a goal, had a couple chances, but it took us a little while to get going. And then at the end, you go down a player and you just kind of grit it out.
“That’s what we were looking to do, put them under pressure and make them uncomfortable. And I think we did that. We pushed the issue and most of the play was in their half. Obviously we want to put more chances away, but I think we showed we were going to possess the ball and take the game to them.”
Chloe Ausburn scored the lone goal of the match in the 32nd minute when she dribbled through the middle of the field. She took a mid-range shot from near the top of the penalty area that appeared to redirect off the defender and squeezed inside the left post.
That was the fruits of a strong push that the Cougars (5-2 overall, 1-1 PTAC) built up over the opening half. They tallied all 12 of the teams’ shots in the first half and created a number of offensive opportunities while keeping the Wildcats backed up in their own half.
“Pressure, it’s all about our front two,” HPCA senior forward/midfield Lauren Austin said. “So, it’s just pressure, pressure, pressure until we get what we want. We’re trying to work together as two up top to create more opportunities with the holding mid. But overall we’re getting better with the pressure and defending.”
The swing, though, came in the 47th minute when Ausburn received her second yellow card of the match — much to the frustration of the Cougars — and was disqualified, leaving the team down a player for the final 33 minutes. But HPCA held on, limiting Westchester’s chances to just a handful.
“We’re young, but we’re strong,” Austin said. “We have good chemistry on and off the field, and that’s what brings us together in games like that.
“It’s hard without the seven seniors (from last year). But it also gives the older kids a new opportunity to step up and be leaders on the field and bring us together to win.”
On the other side, though, the Wildcats were right there with one of the conference’s top teams. Flip a couple plays here and there and perhaps the score could’ve been different, coach Kendal Leak said. But the results overall were positive and it’s a step in the right direction for the team and the program.
“I think we played really well, really competitive,” Leak said. “We work really hard and it definitely showed. I told the girls that I know we’re the small school, but if we can beat a big team then we’ll start turning heads. I don’t think most of these schools think we’re competitive. So, I definitely think we showed it today.
“It gives us a lot of confidence, because it shows the girls: OK, we almost tied against a team that’s been scoring a lot of goals. And it definitely showed that we’re really good defensively and we’re really good at attacking. Our chances didn’t come when we needed them, but they should in the next game.”
Cameron Martin made two saves in goal for the Cougars, who outshot Westchester 16-4 for the match as play evened out in the second half. Lily Wilson made five saves for the Wildcats.
Both teams will next play at Calvary Day. Westchester will travel to Winston-Salem on Thursday, while HPCA will follow suit on Friday. Westchester and HPCA are scheduled to play again Friday, April 16, at Westchester.
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael
Michael Lindsay | Enterprise Sports Writer
HIGH POINT — High Point Christian, through its ups and downs, did what it needed to win a hard-fought rivalry match.
The Cougars kept the pressure up early, eventually netting a goal, then held on late as they played down a player to beat crosstown rival Westchester Country Day 1-0 in PTAC girls soccer on a drizzly Tuesday evening at the High Point Athletic Complex’s Correll-Morris Field.
“I thought we were OK,” HPCA coach Austin Beck said. “It was a slow start in the first half. We got a goal, had a couple chances, but it took us a little while to get going. And then at the end, you go down a player and you just kind of grit it out.
“That’s what we were looking to do, put them under pressure and make them uncomfortable. And I think we did that. We pushed the issue and most of the play was in their half. Obviously we want to put more chances away, but I think we showed we were going to possess the ball and take the game to them.”
Chloe Ausburn scored the lone goal of the match in the 32nd minute when she dribbled through the middle of the field. She took a mid-range shot from near the top of the penalty area that appeared to redirect off the defender and squeezed inside the left post.
That was the fruits of a strong push that the Cougars (5-2 overall, 1-1 PTAC) built up over the opening half. They tallied all 12 of the teams’ shots in the first half and created a number of offensive opportunities while keeping the Wildcats backed up in their own half.
“Pressure, it’s all about our front two,” HPCA senior forward/midfield Lauren Austin said. “So, it’s just pressure, pressure, pressure until we get what we want. We’re trying to work together as two up top to create more opportunities with the holding mid. But overall we’re getting better with the pressure and defending.”
The swing, though, came in the 47th minute when Ausburn received her second yellow card of the match — much to the frustration of the Cougars — and was disqualified, leaving the team down a player for the final 33 minutes. But HPCA held on, limiting Westchester’s chances to just a handful.
“We’re young, but we’re strong,” Austin said. “We have good chemistry on and off the field, and that’s what brings us together in games like that.
“It’s hard without the seven seniors (from last year). But it also gives the older kids a new opportunity to step up and be leaders on the field and bring us together to win.”
On the other side, though, the Wildcats were right there with one of the conference’s top teams. Flip a couple plays here and there and perhaps the score could’ve been different, coach Kendal Leak said. But the results overall were positive and it’s a step in the right direction for the team and the program.
“I think we played really well, really competitive,” Leak said. “We work really hard and it definitely showed. I told the girls that I know we’re the small school, but if we can beat a big team then we’ll start turning heads. I don’t think most of these schools think we’re competitive. So, I definitely think we showed it today.
“It gives us a lot of confidence, because it shows the girls: OK, we almost tied against a team that’s been scoring a lot of goals. And it definitely showed that we’re really good defensively and we’re really good at attacking. Our chances didn’t come when we needed them, but they should in the next game.”
Cameron Martin made two saves in goal for the Cougars, who outshot Westchester 16-4 for the match as play evened out in the second half. Lily Wilson made five saves for the Wildcats.
Both teams will next play at Calvary Day. Westchester will travel to Winston-Salem on Thursday, while HPCA will follow suit on Friday. Westchester and HPCA are scheduled to play again Friday, April 16, at Westchester.
mlindsay@hpenews.com | 336-888-3526 | @HPEmichael
