It may have been Thursday but the Greeneville soccer team wore pink and left Fox Field tickled after handing University High its first loss of the season.
The Lady Greene Devils had to come from behind twice, but in the second half the offense kept the pressure on the Lady Buccaneers backline until it finished with a 4-2 win.
“I feel like the girls played really well. You hate to concede two goals but we haven’t seen that kind of speed all season. It was good to face that kind of adversity. We didn’t get the results we wanted early, but the girls kept pushing and I was glad to see it pay off. They played with confidence and perseverance.”
Greeneville donned special pink jerseys on Thursdays for their annual Breast Cancer Awareness game. Prior to the game the Lady Devils held a special ceremony to recognizes those affected by breast cancer.
Thursday’s action went into halftime knotted at 1-1, but just four minutes into the second half University High speedster Charlotte Williams put the Lady Greene Devils in a hole for the second time.
Williams made a solo run into the left side of the box and went 3-on-1 with the Lady Devils as they tried to keep her in front. The Lady Buc took a big swing and pinned a shot inside the right post for a 2-1 lead.
A pair of yellow cards for Greeneville’s Angelyn Diaz and Kinsley followed in quick succession and it looked like things might unravel for the Lady Devils.
Instead Greeneville’s offense began to stress University’s packed defensive box. In the 50th minute Diaz sent a shot off the crossbar and in the 52nd minute keeper Harper Poston narrowly beat Elsie Rogers to a cross in front of the frame.
It was in the 55th minute when Greeneville creates that Graham described as one of their best goals of the year to even things out at 2-2.
The play started with a corner kick from Spradlen that the defense cleared to the right wing where Spradlen regained her control. The sophomore sent the ball to the middle of the box and where Vivian Kammerdiener ran to it and punched it with the side of her head into the back of the net from 10 yards.
“The girls were playing at a high level and their IQ is getting better each week. Its fun to watch,” Graham said. “We have talked all year about attacking those crosses really strong and you have to give a lot of credit to Vivian. She had made up her mind that she was going to head that into the back of the net. My gosh, that was one of the most fantastic goal we have had all year, and also a great service from Kinsley that could not have been placed any better.”
Just four minutes later Greeneville took the lead for the first time at 3-2. Coming from the midfield stripe Diaz charged at the Lady Bucs and sent a pass ahead to Spradlen. Coming up the right side Spradlen sprinted into the box as University chased and rocketed in a 15-yard shot that proved to be the difference maker.
Greeneville kept the pressure on the Lady Bucs throughout the second half while one the back end Harper Neas, Elaina Philbeck and Juliean Raby made it tougher for Williams to receive possession.
The pressure turned into a fourth goal in the 70th minute. Rogers started the run and with a well placed pass to Spradlen who sent another challenging shot at Poston. The keeper was able to get her hands on the first attempt, but Kammerdiener found the spill and punched it home for a 4-2 advantage.
From the start on Thursday Williams gave Greeneville trouble and in the first minute she raced ahead of the Lady Devils for a 1-on-1 chance that keeper Cailee Broyles pulled in.
In the 14th minute Williams speed got the best of Greeneville as she made a solo run into the box and pinned a shot into the lower left corner for a 1-0 lead.
In the first half Greeneville could not find many shot attempts against the Lady Bucs’ crowded box, but in the 33rd minute they were able to break through and even the score.
From the top of the 18-yard box Kammerdiener found the right angle to deliver a pass to Diaz who was cutting behind a defender. With a Lady Buc riding her hip Diaz charged at the frame and an took a tough-angle shot from five yards and right of frame, slipping it between the keeper and the near post.
“That goal was a big confidence booster. We needed to see some of the things we are trying to do work. That kept us going and kept us with the right mindset going into the second half,” Graham said.
Kammerdiener finished Thursday with two goals and an assist. Diaz and Spradlen each had a goal and an assist. Broyles made three saves for Greeneville. As a team Greeneville outshot University 15-6.
The Lady Greene Devils have one week left in the regular season before they attempt to make another run at the state tournament.
