The Greeneville soccer team was in complete control on Thursday night and turned in a complete performance as it captured the Region 1-AA championship at Fox Field.
The Lady Greene Devils used smothering defense and precise passing to earn a 4-0 win over Elizabethton.
“I’m really pleased with the girls and the way we played today. The preparation we put in culminated into a really great game,” Greeneville coach Jerry Graham said. “We put a lot things together and I feel like we played our best soccer. We didn’t win this region championship last year, they came in as the defending region champions. We wanted that back. I couldn’t be more proud of how these girls played tonight.”
With the win the Lady Greene Devils move on to the Class AA State Sectionals where they will play on Saturday back at home at Fox Field. Elizabethton also advances but will have to travel to Region 2-AA champion Anderson County for its sectional contest. Anderson County beat Gibbs in penalty kicks on Thursday.
“We just have to maintain this momentum,” Graham said. “We need to carry over a lot of things from tonight, and a lot of it is just playing disciplined. We have to come out and play our game, and play this level of soccer again on Saturday. The goal was for the road to the state tournament to come through Fox Field. These girls want it and I’m sure their preparation and focus will be on point.”
Greeneville’s defense turned in a top-notch performance on Thursday as it shut down Elizabethton’s offense and in particular top scorer Vella Nave. Elaina Philbeck, Julieann Raby, Julia Woolsey, Maggie Moore and Harper Neas were impenetrable for most of the evening and never let the speed at the top of the Lady Cyclones’ formation get loose.
Nave was held without a shot attempt, and after a quick start that saw three shots fly in the first five minutes Elizabethton spent most of the night chasing possession.
“Our back line did a phenomenal job of shutting down their goal scorers,” Graham said. “Julia Woolsey, Elaina Philbeck, Julieann and Maggie Moore they did a fantastic job on (Nave),” Graham said. “We put a lot of focus on her. We pressure covered her. Julia did a great job of getting between her and the ball, and really frustrating her a lot the night.”
Greeneville keeper Cailee Broyles earned three saves in the first five minutes on Friday, but then the Lady Devils’ attack connected and in was all Greeneville from there on.
In the sixth minute Peyton Vaught charged through the Lady Cyclones defense and as she drew all of the attention to the middle she slipped a pass to the her left. Elsie Rogers took possession as she entered the box and at 12-yards she hammered home the first goal of the night.
The Lady Greene Devils kept applying pressure with Vaught, Rogers, Kinsley Spradlen, Vivian Kammerdiener and Angelyn Diaz making runs into the box and sending shots at the frame that keeper Addie Tyler was able to take care of, though some precariously.
In the 19th minute Greeneville’s passing got the best of Elizabethton once again. This time Kammerdiener worked the middle of Elizabethton’s defense before she sent a pass to Kinsley Spradlen who was racing into the box from the right side. Spradlen fired home a shot from 10 yards to put Greeneville in front 2-0.
“Kinsley and Elsie did so much out wide with their runs. I told Kinsley before the game that I thought she could have a big night from the wing,” Graham said. “Holy cow did she not have a great game. Because they were getting wide it opened things up on the inside and gave Vivian, Angelyn and Harper room to make good passes. It was a total team effort.”
Greeneville got off four more shots in the first half, but the score stayed at 2-0 until intermission.
Greeneville added another goal in the 51st minute. This time Spradlen attacked the box from the right wing and sent a shot at the frame that Tyler leaped to stop and punched away from the netting.
That punch sent the ball right to Kammerdiener at the top of the box and after a quick touch she sent a shot back into an open goal for a 3-0 lead.
In the 61st minute Spradlen scored for a second time. She charged into the box from the right-wing again and this time her tight angle shot from six yards crossed the keepers face and stretched the side netting for a 4-0 lead.
Now the Lady Devils turn their attention to the sectionals where they will try to advance to the Class AA State Tournament for the 12th consecutive season.
