It took plenty of skill on Tuesday night to get the job done, but ultimately it was relentless fight and determination that made the difference as the Greeneville soccer team collected a 2-0 win over Providence Academy.
“I felt like the girls played really well tonight. I was pleased with how we played as a team,” Greeneville coach Jerry Graham said. “A lot of the things we did in a lot of facets of the game were things we weren’t doing two weeks ago. So, I’m proud of not just outcome, but the energy and the effort.”
For 60 minutes on Tuesday the two teams battled to a scoreless tie under the sweltering September sun. Both teams made good attacking runs, both keepers made brilliant stops, but coming out of a hydration break the Lady Devils found a spark.
Kinsley Spradlen took a corner kick from the left side and flew a ball into the box. Providence keeper Mollie Stewart went high to get her hands on it, but could not pull it in. Stewart swiveled to catch the bounce while Peyton Vaght crashed through her outstretched arms. Vaught first knocked the ball goalward with her thigh.
At the goal line Lece Lemon stretched her leg and stopped the ball before it crossed. Vaught kept fighting for the go-ahead goal and as she tumbled backward over Stewart she forced the ball between the posts with her back, giving the Lady Devils a much-needed breakthrough.
“It was a big relief to get that go ahead goal,” Graham said. “Providence is a quality team who has had some good results against some good teams. To be able to sink one was really rewarding. We have harped on attacking the ball on corners and that was what you saw on that first goal.”
Once they found the lead the Lady Greene Devils quickly added to it and in the 62nd minute Angelyn Diaz used booming boot to beat the keeper.
Coming up the right side of the formation Diaz pulled up from well beyond the 18-yard box and lobbed a shot high over the keeper. It landed just inside the right post for a 2-0 lead.
Through the first 60 minutes Greeneville largely controlled possession and took the attack to the Lady Knights.
In the first 15 minutes the Lady Greene Devils had seven scoring opportunities, but none of them could get past Stewart. Four of those came on corner kicks with the best chance at scoring coming in the 12th minute when Elaina Philbeck sent back a rebound from the top of the box, but it was deflected away from the frame.
In the 25th minute Diaz dispossessed the Lady Knights at midfield and sent a dangerous pass to Andrehina Moreno making a run at the goal. But Stewart was first to the ball and broke up the scoring chance.
In 30th minute Greeneville goalkeeper Callie Broyles made the most impressive of her five saves. From 50 yards away and left of the frame Rowan Gilmer sent in what looked like a perfect free kick. Broyles leaped skyward and tipped the ball away just under the bar. Then with the box crowded she was able to knock the ball away before Providence could put it back in.
“I’m super proud of Callie. She has been working really hard and really focusing on high balls. To get that first save by tipping one over the top was great to see,” Graham said. “Then after that she able to hold on to a lot of the balls that did go to her. On some dangerous balls she not only made the save, but pulled them in. She was tremendous.”
In the early portion of the second half Greeneville kept the attack moving in its direction and that effort was led by Harper Neas’ tough play in the midfield.
The Lady Devils’ pressure turned into shots from Elsie Rogers, Vivian Kammerdiener, Spradlen and Diaz before the breakthrough goal in the 61st minute.
“In all thirds of the field we did so many things well. Harper Neas was winning the ball out of the air and distributing to Angelyn and Vivian to get the offense going. The back line played really well on the pressure, cover, and only gave up one really dangerous chance,” Graham said.
On the other end of the field Providence was able to create a few chances in the second half but Broyles stood strong between the posts.
In the 46th minute Lynlee Carr made a run into the box from the left side but Broyles dove to her feet and broke up the shot opportunity before it happened.
In the 60th minute Annarose Kozlowski got ahead of the defense on a breakaway, but in a one-on-one matchup Broyles won with a sure-handed grab.
Greeneville’s shutout effort was helped by strong backend play from Philbeck, Julieann Raby, Julia Woolsey and Maggie Moore.
The Lady Devils will be back in action on Friday against Oak Ridge in the Bearden Invitational.
“We need to look at what we can do better, and that starts with scoring. We had some opportunities in the first half and beginning of the second half that we left on the field. You don’t get many of those chances against good teams and you have to take advantage of them.”
