Lady Phoenix battle to make history with first playoff win
The Sonoraville girls soccer team is now going where no previous Lady Phoenix soccer team has ever gone.
Sonoraville scored two goals in the final 10 minutes of the game on Tuesday night to pull away and earn their first-ever playoff win by defeating Monroe Area 3-1 in the first round of the Class AAA State Tournament.
Avery Hamilton had two goals in the victory, including one to break a 1-1 tie in the 71st minute as she battled a Monroe Area defender 1-on-1, came up with the ball in the box and hammered it home past the goalkeeper to put her team up by one.
“We had our chances in the second half to go up by more than a goal, but we just didn’t finish,” said Sonoraville coach Kenny Walraven. “We had the opportunities. But our girls didn’t get down after (Monroe Area) scored their goal on a free kick for their only shot on goal. Instead of getting down, it seemed to fire the girls up. Avery’s goal was set up by a hustle play from one of her teammates, and then she just outworked the defender to get the ball and beat the goalkeeper.
“This is the first time we’ve ever hosted a playoff game, and we got our first-ever playoff win. We made the playoffs last year, but we were new at it and we got a little happy and satisfied toward the end of the year. This year we really focused on finishing and taking that next step. I’m proud of the girls.”
The Lady Phoenix (15-3) settled in and took control of possession after the first few minutes went back and forth in the first half. They had a couple scoring opportunities that sailed either high or wide in the first 10 minutes of the game, but Hamilton put her team on top with a penalty-kick goal in the 13th minute after she was fouled in the box.
After a few more shots just missed their mark, Sonoraville took their 1-0 lead to the break. The second half was much of the same with Sonoraville constantly threatening the Lady Canes box, but their goalkeeper made several good saves.
Monroe Area ( 11- 6- 1) earned a free kick on a foul just outside the box in the 55th minute, and McKensie Contreras converted it by shooting it into the top right part of the net to tie things at 1-1.
After Hamilton’s goal to go ahead in the 71st minute, the Lady Phoenix erased all doubt by adding the clincher on a goal by Bailey Brewer in the 77th minute off an assist from Prissilla Arambul.
“I was proud that we didn’t slow down after we went up 2-1,” said Walraven. “We had a good play in the box, and Prissilla dropped it off to Bailey, who buried it.
“I’m proud our defense too. We ask them to be aggressive and make plays with passes, and they do that. They start our attack and make great decisions.”
The Lady Phoenix will now move on to the second round to face Region 4-AAA No. 1 seed Pike County, who defeated Brantley County 10-0 by mercy rule in the first round.
Walraven said he expects his team to be ready to go once again for the tough matchup. He also added that he was happy for the two seniors on the team, goalkeeper Sidney Stone and midfielder Catherine Farist, who is out for the rest of the season with a leg injury.
“I’m proud of our two seniors,” said Walraven. “It hasn’t always been pretty while they’ve been playing soccer at Sonoraville. They’ve been a part of teams that used to get mercy-ruled, but they’ve also been a part of the program coming this far. They kept soccer relevant and made it important here, and we hope to continue it on in this next game and in the future.”