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Armuchee girls, Pepperell boys pick up Region 7-AA wins
Region soccer matches go to the Armuchee girls and Pepperell boys.
As the season heads into the latter half of region play, every soccer team has gotten a good look at their opponents and figured out where they are. Now, the race is on to qualify for the state playoffs and find the right identity along the way.
In a Region 7-AA doubleheader on Tuesday, the Armuchee girls defeated Pepperell 2-1 in double overtime while the Pepperell boys rolled to a 4-0 win against the Indians. Both games sent clear messages about where the victors are and where they want to go.
“We felt like we could get a goal eventually in one of the overtime periods,” Armuchee coach Mark Dulaney said about the girls’ match. “Knowing that, it just came down to whether we could keep holding down on defense and pull out the win.”
Armuchee’s Brandy Ann Wacker posted a goal from outside the box to take the lead in the second extra period after teammate Addie Grace Trejo tied the game 1-1 with a goal with 16 minutes left in regulation.
Pepperell (4-5, 3-5 7-AA) got a goal from Ansley Davenport to go up 1-0 midway through the first half, but she was often double-teamed for the rest of the match.
Armuchee (4-7, 3-3) began to be more aggressive in the final 40 minutes, and subsequently got more chances as regulation wore on. Dulaney noted Armuchee defender Victoria Reece’s ability to shadow the forward in keeping Pepperell in check.
It is the second straight win for Armuchee and puts the Lady Indians in fourth place in the region with only five games left. It is a position that Dulaney feels blessed to be in considering where the team was to start the year.
“Even being in a place where we could talk about being in state is phenomenal,” Dulaney said. “This is an extremely young team, and it has improved so much.”
The boys’ game was all Pepperell as the Dragons rebounded from losing their first region game of the season Monday against Gordon Central. Ramiro Alanis scored two late goals, while Ryan Hurst and Jimmy Rivera scored a goal each in the first half against the Indians.
Pepperell (6-3-1, 6-1) controlled the pace for all 80 minutes with the Indians only getting two shots on goal the entire game. Pepperell midfielders and forwards kept the ball around Armuchee’s goal and made life hectic for goalkeeper Alex Lyle, who finished with 10 saves.
The Indians (6-5, 4-3) worked to keep up with the intensity brought by Pepperell, but every miscue usually turned into a scoring opportunity for the Dragons. It is a result of not just the Dragons’ skill, but how they spread that skill around.
“We have a strong supporting cast, so use your teammates and trust your teammates,” Pepperell boys’ coach Bo Crick said. “Not everyone is going to make the right play, but you have to trust them.”
Both Pepperell and Armuchee go on spring break next week. Both teams return to the pitch April 4 as Pepperell takes on Dade County and Armuchee travels to Model.