Wesleyan rolls past Calvary, 5-0
Michael Lindsay | HPE
HIGH POINT -
The Wesleyan Christian soccer team needed a half to really get going after playing a tough game the previous night.
But, following a solid enough first half, the Trojans, ranked No. 5 among state 3A private schools, played much better in the second half to beat Calvary Baptist 5-0 in a PACIS 2A/3A match Tuesday at Wesleyan.
Click here for photos from Tuesday's match.
"Overall, it was a decent performance coming off a tough game at Providence Day," Trojans coach Harry Sherwood said. "We got back late. So, to turn around within 24 hours and play the way they did was good. I was very pleased with the second-half performance, which was an improvement on the first.
"We were conscious to count how many passes we made. And we made it a point to completely out-possess the other team and build from there. Calvary set up defensively, which didn't allow us much room in front of the goal. So, the majority of the possession was in our favor, and from there it was: Can we create any gaps?"
Montana Heinbach scored two goals to lead Wesleyan (5-0-1 overall, 4-0 PACIS), which tied third-ranked Providence Day 0-0 on Monday, while Audrey Ann Beck, Caylin Prillaman and Karly Beck each scored once.
Madi Kyle dished two assists, while Audrey Ann Beck and Kennedy Case each had one. The Trojans scored twice in the first 20 minutes but struggled against the Cougars' packed-in defense until breaking through with three in the final 21 minutes.
"Our attacking goal of the game was just to connect with each other," said Heinbach, a junior midfielder/forward, "and move off the ball in order to get better as a team. So, basically, going forward we tried to combine and get out wide especially and get some crosses in.
"I think we came out a little tired after yesterday, thinking we could play the ball around. But, obviously, it's not going to work if you don't move. So, we picked it up. We realized that we have to move for each other. We just had to play as we practice with our speed of play and play for one another."
Wesleyan, which outshot Calvary 34-6, dominated possession in the midfield. But the Cougars did well for long stretches to break up the Trojans' attacks in the final third. Once Wesleyan began connecting better, it did much better in finding the net.
The Trojans scored in the fifth minute when Audrey Ann Beck scored off a corner kick that bounced through a crowd of defenders. Then, in the 18th minute, Heinbach booted a long shot that deflected off the keeper and in for a 2-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Heinbach took a pass near the top of the box and scored off a hard shot in the 60th minute. Then, Prillaman scored off another hard shot near the top of the box in the 76th minute, and Karly Beck controlled a deflected ball and scored out in front in the final two minutes.
"I'm sure many area coaches are feeling the same way - it's been a very bizarre spring season," Sherwood said of the season overall. "It's been stop, start, stop, start. We've probably had more games than outdoor practices. So, we're just making the best of every opportunity to be better every time we step on the field."
Regan Williams made six saves in goal for Wesleyan, which has next week off for spring break. The Trojans will return to action April 14 at home against 14th-ranked Greensboro Day.
Michael Lindsay | HPE
HIGH POINT -
The Wesleyan Christian soccer team needed a half to really get going after playing a tough game the previous night.
But, following a solid enough first half, the Trojans, ranked No. 5 among state 3A private schools, played much better in the second half to beat Calvary Baptist 5-0 in a PACIS 2A/3A match Tuesday at Wesleyan.
Click here for photos from Tuesday's match.
"Overall, it was a decent performance coming off a tough game at Providence Day," Trojans coach Harry Sherwood said. "We got back late. So, to turn around within 24 hours and play the way they did was good. I was very pleased with the second-half performance, which was an improvement on the first.
"We were conscious to count how many passes we made. And we made it a point to completely out-possess the other team and build from there. Calvary set up defensively, which didn't allow us much room in front of the goal. So, the majority of the possession was in our favor, and from there it was: Can we create any gaps?"
Montana Heinbach scored two goals to lead Wesleyan (5-0-1 overall, 4-0 PACIS), which tied third-ranked Providence Day 0-0 on Monday, while Audrey Ann Beck, Caylin Prillaman and Karly Beck each scored once.
Madi Kyle dished two assists, while Audrey Ann Beck and Kennedy Case each had one. The Trojans scored twice in the first 20 minutes but struggled against the Cougars' packed-in defense until breaking through with three in the final 21 minutes.
"Our attacking goal of the game was just to connect with each other," said Heinbach, a junior midfielder/forward, "and move off the ball in order to get better as a team. So, basically, going forward we tried to combine and get out wide especially and get some crosses in.
"I think we came out a little tired after yesterday, thinking we could play the ball around. But, obviously, it's not going to work if you don't move. So, we picked it up. We realized that we have to move for each other. We just had to play as we practice with our speed of play and play for one another."
Wesleyan, which outshot Calvary 34-6, dominated possession in the midfield. But the Cougars did well for long stretches to break up the Trojans' attacks in the final third. Once Wesleyan began connecting better, it did much better in finding the net.
The Trojans scored in the fifth minute when Audrey Ann Beck scored off a corner kick that bounced through a crowd of defenders. Then, in the 18th minute, Heinbach booted a long shot that deflected off the keeper and in for a 2-0 lead into halftime.
In the second half, Heinbach took a pass near the top of the box and scored off a hard shot in the 60th minute. Then, Prillaman scored off another hard shot near the top of the box in the 76th minute, and Karly Beck controlled a deflected ball and scored out in front in the final two minutes.
"I'm sure many area coaches are feeling the same way - it's been a very bizarre spring season," Sherwood said of the season overall. "It's been stop, start, stop, start. We've probably had more games than outdoor practices. So, we're just making the best of every opportunity to be better every time we step on the field."
Regan Williams made six saves in goal for Wesleyan, which has next week off for spring break. The Trojans will return to action April 14 at home against 14th-ranked Greensboro Day.
