The Greeneville soccer team blitzed Dobyns-Bennett early and claimed its first win over the tribe since 2021 with a 3-1 decision on Thursday night.
“That’s a really good win tonight over a quality team. They are well-coached and we knew it was going to be a good game coming in. I felt like we had the quality to go the distance with them tonight and get the win. So it’s nice especially with the things we’ve been working on here this week. We’ve been looking pretty good,” Greeneville’s Head Coach Jerry Graham said.
Two goals courtesy of Remi Elyze-Vital and Jude Dyer helped Greeneville take control in the early stages. A stellar defensive performance from the Devils’ back line helped fuel Greeneville to victory complemented by their timely scoring. Emerson Hensley’s late goal in the second half helped ice the game and preserve the win.
“Our defense played outstanding. Gannon Cogdell did well in the goal. Weston (McGill) and Justin (Banegas) played really well playing for each other and covering for each other. Each one of them made plays when they needed to. Everybody stepped up and saved us on one end,” Graham mentioned.
Greeneville and Dobyns-Bennett renewed their yearly rivalry on Thursday. The rivalry had been lopsided in recent years. Thursday’s win became only the third win over the Indians since 2008 and first since 2021. The win helped Greeneville improve to 6-4-1 on the season.
The Devils started with a bang and received an early goal courtesy of Remi Elyze-Vital in the 6th minute. Cristian Banegas delivered a perfectly-placed corner kick right to Vital for a header. It was Vital’s second goal of the season helped Greeneville lead 1-0.
“He was able to find himself open and was able to find the thing in the back of the net,” Coach Graham said.
Dyer helped boost that lead to 2-0 with a swift steal and breakaway goal in the 13th minute. Dyer’s dart to the back of the net served as his second goal of the season also and helped Greeneville create a commanding lead early into the contest.
“He did a great job with the angle that he pressed, got the turnover, straight at the goal, and then great job finishing by the kid. Couldn’t be happier for him,” Coach Graham stated.
The Devils went into the half with a 2-0 lead.
Dobyns-Bennett started controlling the ball more and became more aggressive in the early part of the second half. Almost halfway through Jordan Stanley scored in the 57th minute to help the tribe inched closer to the lead.
Greeneville only took eight shots all game (five on goal), but made the most of the opportunities given to them. The Devils had been held without a shot for the first 27 minutes of the second half. Emerson Hancock changed that with a strike past the goalkeeper in the 68th minute to lift Greeneville ahead 3-1.
“That’s just pure work. That’s just stuff that Emerson does. He’s grown probably more as a player than a lot of our players in the last four years. And that kind of run that he made and the effort that he had to come through and get that little poke in the back of the net is tremendous in how we closed out this game,” Coach Graham explained.
The Greene Devils ended Thursday’s matchup with a 3-1 victory over D-B at the conclusion.
Greeneville hosts Northview next on Tuesday inside of Burley Stadium to finish a five-game home stretch.
