Murphy – The Swain Lady Devils soccer team traveled to Murphy on Monday night to take on the Tri-County Early College for a conference match up. The Lady Devils got off to a rough start with Blue Ridge jumping out to an early lead 15 minutes into the game. The next score was an own goal by Blue Ridge with 13 minutes left in the first half tying the score 1-1. Just one minute later Junior Kyndall Cochran found the back of the net off of a pass by Freshman Isabelle Green. With under a minute left in the first half Freshman Bri Ross dribbled the ball 50 yards to finish with a goal. Going into halftime the Lady Devils were up 3-1. “The first 25 minutes of the game we struggled with just connecting passes”, said Coach Scott Cline. “After we calmed down and played our game we started playing as a team.”
Five minutes into the second half Freshman Maddie Lay found the back of the net for her first goal of the season. Three minutes later Ross scored her second goal of the night bringing the score to 5-1. Cochran added to her total goals just a few minutes later by scoring another goal from a pass by Senior Mae Duncan. Blue Ridge scored again bringing the score to 6-2. It did not take long for Green to find the back of the net once again increasing the lead to 7-2. With eight minutes left in the game Cochran topped off her scoring night with a third goal bringing the final score to 8-2.
On the defensive side Freshman Bri Ross led the way with 10 clears/steals, followed by Senior Alana Booth with 8, and then Sophomore Rebecca Duncan, Junior Jessie Richards, and Sophomore Peyton Hines each with six. In goal Freshman Maddie Lay recorded three Saves Senior Josie Parker recorded one.
The Swain Player of the Game was Freshman Isabelle Green. “Isabelle played a great game. Especially in the second half.” said Cline. ” She did a really good job of controlling the middle of the field and making good passes when she needed to make them.” Currently in the Smoky Mountain Conference Cochran sits in second place for total goals scored, Green is in fifth place in Assists, and Parker is in first place with goalkeeper saves.