The Swain Lady Devils soccer team hosted the Highlands Highlanders on Thursday night at the Swain Memorial Stadium. The Lady Devils played a hard fought game that went into overtime. The lack of players proved to be to much for the Lady Devils in overtime with Highlands coming away with the 7-4 win. The Lady Devils showed some great ball movement throughout the game. “Highlands always has a tough team. Quite often they are the top in the conference,” said Coach Scott Cline. “The score definitely did not show the level of play our girls were playing. We just ran out of steam by the time we ended regulation. Most of the girls ended up playing the full 100 minutes including the two overtime periods.”
Just two minutes into the game Junior Kyndall Cochran found the back of the net for the Lady Devils. It did not take long for Highlands to answer two minutes later. Highlands answered again making the score 2-1. With nine minutes left in the half Cochran took a corner kick that was finished by Junior Jessie Richards. Later in the half Cochran scored again giving the Lady Devils a 3-2 halftime lead. In the second half Highlands scored twice pulling ahead 4-3. Swain answered off a cross from Cochran to Freshman Bri Ross with a one touch goal.
By the end of regulation the score was tied 4-4. In conference play all games must be played to a winner. In soccer two 10 minute overtime periods are played followed by penalty kicks if there is still a tie. In the first overtime period Highlands scored bringing them ahead 5-4. They scored twice more in the second overtime winning the game 7-4.
On the defensive side Senior Sharlotte Queen-Jackson and Freshman Bri Ross led the way with 19 clears/steals, followed by Junior Jessie Richards with 13 and Sophomore Rebecca Duncan with 10. In goal Senior Josie Parker recorded 6 saves.
The Swain Players of the game were Senior Mae Duncan and Junior Jessie Richards. “Both of these girls showed true heart out there, as did many of our players. They gave it their all for the entire 100 minutes,” Cline said. “These girls never gave up and truly exemplify Maroon Strong,”