Women’s soccer blows out Owls; Pepsi Stadium gets lights
Posted by The Skyliner on September 23rd, 2009Paul Conner
Sports Editor
Ashlyn Henderson (10) dribbles towards goal in North Greenville's 8-1 victory over Warren Wilson Thursday night. (Photo by Ashley Herndon)
Leah Ward, junior sport management, scored a career-high four goals as North Greenville defeated Warren Wilson 8-1 at Pepsi Stadium last Thursday night.
The Lady Crusaders (4-2) matched their largest margin of victory of the season after defeating Converse 7-0 on Sept. 3. Hayley Williams, junior linguistics and early childhood education, and Ashlyn Henderson, sophomore outdoor leadership, each added two goals for North Greenville. Williams also had two assists.
“I was very happy with the way we played,” coach Jesse McCormick said. “It was great to come out and use one- and two-touch passes, moving the ball quickly and attacking with speed. In the first half, we had some things to work on defensively, but I thought we cleaned that up in the second half.”
North Greenville dominated Warren Wilson statistically, outshooting the Owls 39-7. The Lady Crusaders got off to a fast start when Ward scored on an unassisted goal in the fourth minute. Ward struck again in the 10th minute on an assist from Henderson, and by the 30th minute, the striker had recorded a hat trick.
“We have a lot of players who can score goals, and that makes it tough on other teams,” McCormick said. “They’re not just individuals, but they work together well as a team.”
Henderson scored on a Williams assist one minute later. Just minutes before halftime, North Greenville allowed an own goal, the Owls’ only goal of the match. The Lady Crusaders back line, led by keeper Jessica Binkley, senior health and wellness, has only allowed five goals in six matches.
Williams netted her goals in the 70th and 74th minute, and Henderson and Ward notched two more before the whistle for full time.
North Greenville will travel to Greenwood, S.C., to face Lander today at 4:30 p.m. before returning home to face Tennessee Temple Saturday at Pepsi at 1 p.m.
Goals by Seth Snyder, senior business, and Manuel Izquierdo, senior, were not enough as the men’s team fell 5-2 at Lander last Wednesday night.
“Lander has a lot of talent, but we were able to stay with them for much of the game,” North Greenville coach Chad Gfeller said. “We were trying to push forward, and we let in a few goals late in the match.”
Lander got on the board in the first 10 minutes, but Snyder tied the game on an unassisted goal. The Bearcats scored in the 34th minute and again after halftime in the 51st minute before Izquierdo pulled North Greenville one back with a long-range shot. As the Crusaders tried to equalize, Lander scored two in the closing minutes to put the match out of reach.
Before Wednesday’s game at 7 p.m. against Southern Wesleyan, the program will celebrate an official lighting ceremony to christen the new stadium lights at Pepsi Stadium. With major donations from Jim Cox and Don Snyder, The Lighting Company of Chesnee installed four lighting units over the offseason.
“A lot of work, time and money went in to getting the lights,” Gfeller said. “The big thing are more home games and getting more fans out to support us.”
Tags: Fall 2009, Vol. 109 - Issue 3