The Swain High Lady Devils Soccer team hosted the Murphy Bulldogs on Thursday night in a very important Smoky Mountain conference matchup. The Lady Devils would get on the scoreboard first, just a minute and 20 seconds into the game, when Freshman Jessi Nichols would cross a ball to Freshman Mya Burrows-Kurr for a goal. With 21 minutes left in the half, Burrows-Kurr would send a through ball to Senior Kaylee Simmons, who would dribble the ball half of the field and score a goal. Just 3 minutes later Freshman Karena Cline would steal the ball from a Bulldog defender and score her first goal of the night. Seven minutes later Senior Mazie Helpman would get in on the scoring when Simmons would cross the ball across the front of the goal. Just one minute later Burrows-Kurr would find Helpman with another through ball and Helpman would put the Lady Devils up 5-0. The first half would finish with the Lady Devils up 5-0.
Just five minutes into the second half Sophomore Anna Gray would find Simmons for her second goal of the game. Three minutes later Simmons would find Helpman for the goal. One minute later, the Bulldog goalkeeper would clear the ball out and Cline would take a shot from 30 yards out over the goalkeeper’s head giving the Devils the 8-0 lead. With 23 minutes left to play the Bulldogs would score their first goal of the game. With around 9 minutes left the Devils would commit a foul right outside of their own box. The Bulldogs would take a free kick, scoring off of it. With 6 minutes left Cline would find Simmons for her third goal of the night. Three minutes later Senior Jadyn Perez would find Simmons with a long ball and Simmons would score her fourth goal of the game. The Devils would finish out the game with a 10-2 win over the Bulldogs.
“We were really happy with how we played. The girls came out wanting the win and worked hard for a full game.” said Head Coach Scott Cline. “It was great to have the opportunity to get all of our girls some time on the field.”
On Defense, Freshman Karena Cline led the way with 7 Clears/Steals, followed by Senior Jadyn Perez with 6, Sophomore Anna Gray with 5, and Senior Avery Maples and Freshman Sophie Matz each with 4. In goal, Sophomore Emmie Fuller had 4 saves and Freshman Gracie Sutton had 2 saves. The player of the game for the Lady Devils was Senior Kaylee Simmons. “Kaylee had what was possibly one of her best games,” said Coach Cline. “She not only had 4 goals, but she also had 2 assists. She really stepped it up offensively for us and played a very unselfish game.”