Wilson Christian gives Greenfield the boot 4-0 in first girls soccer meeting
By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer
Don't shed tears for the Wilson Christian varsity girls soccer team just yet.
Although the Lady Chargers lost a pair of individual standouts in the form of Courtney Taybron and Rachel Renfrow to graduation and NCAA Division I opportunities at East Carolina University, the remaining cupboard is not bare off Airport Road.
As such, WCA continued its strong start to the 2015 season Friday afternoon in cold and dreary conditions. Four different Lady Chargers scored and the Wilson Christian defense limited Greenfield School to just a single shot late in the second half en route to a 4-0 triumph in the first girls soccer meeting between the crosstown foes.
Wilson Christian of the North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A District 3 ranks remained unbeaten through three matches, while Greenfield, following a 9-1 loss to Community Christian in its season opener, dropped to 0-2.
"We're still trying, I think, to find our identity," Wilson Christian head coach Don Samson said. "We came out a little slower than I prefer and we talked a little about that, pointing out their effort. We want their best at all times, and that's what's going to help us improve more rapidly. But once they really brought it, I think that's when our chances really picked up."
Indeed, after a brief back-and-forth tussle through the midfield, Wilson Christian began to assert its control in the possession battle and gradually spent more time in the Greenfield defensive third.
WCA outshot the Knights 25-1 and placed 16 shots on frame. While Lady Chargers senior goalkeeper Victoria Cooper was not pressed into a save, Greenfield freshman Anna Merritt Hauser stayed under considerable duress between her posts in finishing with 12 saves.
In the 14th minute, the Wilson Christian offense found room to operate inside the Greenfield penalty area. Senior Rachel Turner sent a through ball for junior Kelli Brantley, who applied the finish past Hauser for the 1-0 Wilson Christian lead.
Roughly eight minutes later, Brantley added her first assist, leaving her own through ball for freshman Jenna Hunter inside the area. Hunter knocked it in for a two-goal lead.
"Last year, we depended on Courtney and Rachel a lot for scoring," Brantley reviewed. "This year, a lot of people have stepped up. We've had a lot of different scorers this year because everyone is getting involved in the offense."
In the 32nd minute, the Lady Chargers tacked on a third goal. A handball by Greenfield allowed sophomore Nicole Joyner to take a penalty kick and, despite Hauser getting a hand on the ball, Joyner's shot crossed the goal line to give WCA a 3-0 halftime edge.
Greenfield's lone shot came in the 79th minute as it attempted to push additional numbers forward. Senior Amber Hicks put a foot on the ball while running down the left side, but her shot went harmlessly wide to preserve Cooper's shutout. Cooper, starting in goal the place of injured sophomore Kimberly Lamm, was surrounded by a defense of sophomore Kennedy Wiseman, sophomore Caroline Paul, senior Megan Futrell and senior Sarah Reams.
"The attack wasn't quite there," Greenfield first-year head coach Randol Mendoza said. "It's definitely something that we need to work on this week coming up, being that we don't have any games, we're going to make sure that we get our players up and get numbers up the field so when we do attack, we have six players versus having just one or two. That's what we saw today."
Wilson Christian's lone goal of the second half was scored in splendid fashion. Coming through the midfield, Brantley passed to Hunter down the right side, who sent a through ball for junior Natalie Craven at the far post. Craven was waiting and poked it in for the final margin.
The Lady Chargers owned a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
"We're just trying to learn to play together as a team - trying to play as one unit instead of 11 different people," Greenfield senior captain Eliza Darden Smith offered. "We're just learning to play together because we've got a lot of new kids that have never played with us before."
Wilson Christian hits the road to face Halifax Academy on Monday as Greenfield will enjoy a one-week layoff before facing Raleigh Saint Mary's in The Brittany XI at Gillette Soccer Complex.
This post was edited on 3/14 11:05 AM by eastern
By Jimmy Lewis Staff Writer
Don't shed tears for the Wilson Christian varsity girls soccer team just yet.
Although the Lady Chargers lost a pair of individual standouts in the form of Courtney Taybron and Rachel Renfrow to graduation and NCAA Division I opportunities at East Carolina University, the remaining cupboard is not bare off Airport Road.
As such, WCA continued its strong start to the 2015 season Friday afternoon in cold and dreary conditions. Four different Lady Chargers scored and the Wilson Christian defense limited Greenfield School to just a single shot late in the second half en route to a 4-0 triumph in the first girls soccer meeting between the crosstown foes.
Wilson Christian of the North Carolina Christian School Association 2-A District 3 ranks remained unbeaten through three matches, while Greenfield, following a 9-1 loss to Community Christian in its season opener, dropped to 0-2.
"We're still trying, I think, to find our identity," Wilson Christian head coach Don Samson said. "We came out a little slower than I prefer and we talked a little about that, pointing out their effort. We want their best at all times, and that's what's going to help us improve more rapidly. But once they really brought it, I think that's when our chances really picked up."
Indeed, after a brief back-and-forth tussle through the midfield, Wilson Christian began to assert its control in the possession battle and gradually spent more time in the Greenfield defensive third.
WCA outshot the Knights 25-1 and placed 16 shots on frame. While Lady Chargers senior goalkeeper Victoria Cooper was not pressed into a save, Greenfield freshman Anna Merritt Hauser stayed under considerable duress between her posts in finishing with 12 saves.
In the 14th minute, the Wilson Christian offense found room to operate inside the Greenfield penalty area. Senior Rachel Turner sent a through ball for junior Kelli Brantley, who applied the finish past Hauser for the 1-0 Wilson Christian lead.
Roughly eight minutes later, Brantley added her first assist, leaving her own through ball for freshman Jenna Hunter inside the area. Hunter knocked it in for a two-goal lead.
"Last year, we depended on Courtney and Rachel a lot for scoring," Brantley reviewed. "This year, a lot of people have stepped up. We've had a lot of different scorers this year because everyone is getting involved in the offense."
In the 32nd minute, the Lady Chargers tacked on a third goal. A handball by Greenfield allowed sophomore Nicole Joyner to take a penalty kick and, despite Hauser getting a hand on the ball, Joyner's shot crossed the goal line to give WCA a 3-0 halftime edge.
Greenfield's lone shot came in the 79th minute as it attempted to push additional numbers forward. Senior Amber Hicks put a foot on the ball while running down the left side, but her shot went harmlessly wide to preserve Cooper's shutout. Cooper, starting in goal the place of injured sophomore Kimberly Lamm, was surrounded by a defense of sophomore Kennedy Wiseman, sophomore Caroline Paul, senior Megan Futrell and senior Sarah Reams.
"The attack wasn't quite there," Greenfield first-year head coach Randol Mendoza said. "It's definitely something that we need to work on this week coming up, being that we don't have any games, we're going to make sure that we get our players up and get numbers up the field so when we do attack, we have six players versus having just one or two. That's what we saw today."
Wilson Christian's lone goal of the second half was scored in splendid fashion. Coming through the midfield, Brantley passed to Hunter down the right side, who sent a through ball for junior Natalie Craven at the far post. Craven was waiting and poked it in for the final margin.
The Lady Chargers owned a 6-1 advantage in corner kicks.
"We're just trying to learn to play together as a team - trying to play as one unit instead of 11 different people," Greenfield senior captain Eliza Darden Smith offered. "We're just learning to play together because we've got a lot of new kids that have never played with us before."
Wilson Christian hits the road to face Halifax Academy on Monday as Greenfield will enjoy a one-week layoff before facing Raleigh Saint Mary's in The Brittany XI at Gillette Soccer Complex.
This post was edited on 3/14 11:05 AM by eastern
