ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Hannah Devane and senior Justyna Gargala scored 2 goals each to lead East Bladen to a 4-1 Four County Conference girls soccer victory over Heide Trask Tuesday night.
Gargala broke free and sent a hard cross to the back post that Devane knocked into the net from 5 yards out for the first Lady Eagle goal. Sophmore Ashley Hardin sent the pass to Devane that set up the second goal. Devane finished the shot from 12 yards out for a 2-0 East lead.
“We dominated the first half and outshot them 13-1 for the half and 29-6 for the game,” said East Bladen Coach Jay Raynor. “We are doing a good job of applying pressure and keeping the game on our opponents half of the field. The pressure allows us to capitalize on the other team’s mistakes.”
Freshman Patience Ward and Gargala worked a give-and-go that resulted in Gargala’s first goal with an assist from Ward. “We moved Patience to right forward and she came into her own tonight,” continued Raynor. “She was an intricate piece of the attack tonight and made some amazing plays. She is super-athletic.”
Gargala attacked a ball in the box for her second goal. “She collided with the keeper but kept playing and finished the loose ball,” said Coach Raynor. “Hannah, Justyna, Patience and Cybil (Campbell) were all attacking every shot or loose ball in the box.”
Sophmore Ting Lin had 3 saves in goal for East Bladen. “She seems to be getting more and more comfortable in the back,” noted Raynor. “Trinity (Carroll) and Cassidy (Davis) played well and really limited Trask’s chances. Cassidy really helped initiate our attack by playing the ball from our defensive third to our forwards.”
“Ashley and Lexi (Mendell) were the key to a lot of our dominance,” said Raynor. “They handle the midfield really well and were both getting involved in the attack.”
Raynor added that everyone on the team played at least ten minutes each and the play of the starters in controlling the game allowed him to get the younger girls some experience.
“They work really hard, give you 110% and they made some plays,” he said. Trask scored their lone goal with 20 seconds left in the game against the East Bladen reserves.
“We showed a lot of improvement despite the injuries that are plaguing us right now,” added Raynor. “Maddie (West) is not well but worked so hard tonight. She is evolving and beginning to figure things out. I just wish we could get her and the others healthy.”
“Cassie (Hill) and Sarah (Johnson) had really good games,” concluded Raynor. “They are always working hard and making plays.”
The Lady Eagles are now 2-1 in league play and 6-1 overall. East Bladen will travel to Wallace-Rose Hill Thursday for a 6 p.m. game.
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