ELIZABETHTOWN – Freshmen Kenia Medina and Katie Evans combined for 3 goals and an assist to lead East Bladen to a 4-0 victory over Elizabeth City Northeastern Tuesday night in the opening round of the NCHSAA Class 2A girls soccer state play-offs.
Medina rang up 2 goals, and Evans finished with a goal and an assist as East Bladen outshot Northeastern 35-0.
Sophmore Patience Ward opened the scoring for East in the eleventh minute taking a pass from Evans and knocking in the goal from just inside the 6-yard box.
In the 34 minute, Medina fired in her first goal of the game. “It was unassisted as she was able to pick the ball up deep in the box and beat the keeper low,” said East Bladen Coach Jay Raynor.
“I thought we were sloppy tonight,” stated Raynor. “Not sure if it was nerves or not but we weren’t ourselves to begin with. We weren’t watching and not moving around. I thought we made the game entirely too easy for them.”
East Bladen made and adjustment and moved senior Hannah Devane into midfield. “That changed the game for us,” noted Raynor. “Hannah made some very nice plays for us. She sees the game very well and brings experience.”
Raynor added, “Hannah and Ashley (Hardin) challenged the team at halftime. That was a difference and sparked us to start the second half.”
Evans started the scoring for East Bladen in the second half by converting a pass from Lily Lin into a goal in the 45th minute. “We made some outstanding runs to goal and put up some nice shots,” said Raynor. “We forced their keeper to make some solid saves.”
Evans was pulled down in the box in the 70th minute, and Medina blasted in the penalty kick for the final goal.
“We moved the ball better in the second half with Hannah in the midfield,” continued Raynor. “They played an extremely high line and we weren’t ready for that to begin with. We just got caught standing a lot and watching.”
“Cybil (Campbell) and Gracyn (Martin) had outstanding games at the 3 and the 2 spot,” said Raynor. “Lily, Izzy (Smith), and Sarah Johnson also did great for us tonight. Many times they were able to play the ball back immediately to the front line to initiate the attack.”
Raynor continued, “Ashton (Magby) did a phenomenal job tonight! She has been asked to play all over the field in numerous positions. She looked very comfortable in the back tonight and made some outstanding plays.”
“We will be better next time,” Raynor concluded. “Just one of those days. Our philosophy is we are going to score 4 (goals) and you have to score 5 to beat us. We got our 4 even though it wasn’t our best performance. Proud of the girls and what they have accomplished.”
East Bladen will host a second-round play-off game against the winner of Nash Central and N. C. School of Science & Math.
About Author
