Southern Wayne’s Kely Barrios, left, challenges Hunt’s Susan Guzman on a header near midfield during first-half action at the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex in Goldsboro on Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne goalie Amya Smith protects the near post as Hunt’s Gabby Ruelas tries to settle the ball Thursday evening. Defending are the Saints’ Aracely Perez-Barrera and Jayda Harrell. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne goalie Amya Smith sends the ball upfield during play against perennial power Wilson Hunt on Thursday evening. Smith recorded a season- and career-high 19 saves. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Ana Morales Gonzalez and Hunt’s Mariah Polk battle for possession near the sideline during their game Thursday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
GOLDSBORO — A defeat against a quality opponent didn’t leave first-year Southern Wayne girls’ soccer head coach Elvia Mejia in a disappointing mood Thursday evening.
She lauded her team’s effort throughout a 9-0 loss to perennial power Wilson Hunt on the Bryan Multi-Sports Complex pitch.
“We’re proud of them for their effort, giving it all,” Mejia said of the Quad County 3A match. “It showed us what we have to work on and it also showed us where we have improved. It shows how the girls have been working hard to get to a different place.”
Mejia scouted the Warriors earlier in the week and noted that their offense is filtered through midfield play. The Saints tweaked their defense to handle the tactic, but Hunt countered with good ball movement and work in open spaces.
The different attack led to four shots on goal during the first 10 minutes.
Saints keeper Amya Smith stopped one ball inches from the goal line. Two shot attempts hit the posts and another shot sailed over the crossbar.
“They knew how to shift from one angle to another, knew how to pass the ball,” Mejia said. “That’s one of the things we have practiced, but they seemed much stronger … different than other teams we’ve faced. We were prepared defensively.”
Mariah Polk broke the scoreless tie on an assist from Madyson Brown in the 14th minute. Polk and Brown each registered a hat trick (three goals) for the Warriors, who rose to 11-1-1 overall against Wayne County opposition since 2013. Eight of those contests have resulted in shutouts.
Susan Guzman provided two goals and Natalie Capps supplied one goal.
Hunt (5-1-1 overall, 2-0-0 QCC) attempted more than 30 shots, which kept Smith busy in the net. The junior logged a season- and career-high 19 saves.
Offensively, Southern Wayne (4-2-1, 1-1-0) pushed a few possessions across the midfield stripe. The Warriors’ defense constantly disrupted the flow and didn’t allow a shot on goal.
“We were able to pressure them,” Mejia said.
The Saints return to the Bryan Complex next Tuesday to face South Johnston. The Quad County 3A matchup kicks off at 6 p.m.
