RED SPRINGS – Senior Maya McDonald filled up the nets with a ‘Double Hat Trick’ of 6 goals as she led East Bladen to a 9-0 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls soccer victory over Red Springs Friday night.
Freshman Jackie Medina-Leal turned an assist from sophomore Heidi Rebollar into the game’s 1st goal in the 3rd minute of play. McDonald blistered the nets with the next 5 goals. In the game’s 5th minute, McDonald cracked the scoring column with an assist from Medina-Leal.
One minute later junior Cydney Campbell sent a pass to McDonald that the senior knocked into the goal for a 3-0 Lady Eagle lead. Rebollar who totaled 3 assists in the game delivered a pass that McDonald fired into the goal midway the 1st half.
McDonald completed her run of 5 straight goals by attacking the defense for a pair of unassisted goals that pushed the lead to 6-0 with 12:16 on the 1st half clock.
“The play of Jackie and Nene (Iveonna Ward) created mismatches with Maya up top,” noted Lady Eagle Coach Jay Raynor. “Jackie got us going early and finished a great shot. We used Jackie to pull their backs wide. Nene was able to utilize her speed and is a great compliment to Maya.”
Raynor continued, “Maya was great tonight. She dominated her duels and muscled her way through their backs. Tight field tonight which is much different than playing at home. We did not change our tactics which clogged things up for them as well as ourselves.”
Rebollar knocked in a goal off of a McDonald assist with 8:54 left in the half. Freshman Anna Miranda closed out the half by turning another feed from Rebollar into a goal and an 8-0 lead. McDonald ended the game in the 2nd minute of the 2nd half by blasting in her 6th goal of the game.
“Great performance from our girls,” said Raynor. “The energy started and finished at a high level. I thought the girls did a great job of pressing the ball and our opponent. We could’ve made it easier on ourselves by changing tactics for tonight’s match and stretching them out horizontally. Felt it was more important to be who we are and stick to what we are doing.”
Raynor added, “Our organization and play in midfield allowed us to control the game. Heidi and Acee (Campbell) are playing some of the best soccer I have seen them play. They are dominant. They allow us to transition from defending into our attack quickly. They both are calm under pressure. Cydney and Anna were great with Acee and Heidi in midfield.
“We are getting the pieces in the correct positions,” said Raynor. “We need to continue to find out who our game changers are and get them in the game.”
Raynor concluded, “The girls continue to grow each time out. We were much better on restart tonight. Kick-off, throw-ins, free kicks, and corner kicks have been the focus the last week. We were much improved with those restarts tonight.”
The Lady Eagles remained unbeaten at 4-0 in SAC-7 play and 7-0 overall. East Bladen will travel to St. Pauls Tuesday night.
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