Sonoraville rallies past rival Lady Jackets in overtime
The Sonoraville Lady Phoenix have had experience rallying from deficits this season to pull out tough wins, and they had to go back to that well once again on Thursday against rival Calhoun.
The Lady Phoenix trailed 1-0 for much of the game before getting a clutch goal late in the second half to tie the game and then scored the eventual game-winner early in overtime to earn a 2-1 win. The victory for Sonoraville (10-42, 8-1 in 6-AAA) clinches the No. 2 seed from the region for the Class AAA State Tournament, which comes with the right to host a first-round game.
Sonoraville coach Kenny Walraven said his team leaned on their previous experience of come-from-behind victories and it paid off against Calhoun (8-5-2, 6-2).
“We were down 1-0 just like in the Adairsville game and the Rome game earlier this year,” said Walraven. “We had control of possession for much of the game tonight and had some shots but just didn’t finish them. We’ll continue to work on that. I definitely think that experience from earlier this season kept the girls calm. There wasn’t any panic when we were behind. They weren’t frazzled. I’m really proud of how they just stayed focused and were able to find a way to come back and get the win. And hats off to Calhoun too. They made it really tough on us tonight.
“To get a win and clinch that region runner-up spot is big. I think we’re peaking at the right time and playing some good soccer. We will get to host in the first round of the state tournament so we’re looking forward to that.”
Sonoraville held possession for much of the first half but the Calhoun defense and goalkeeper Mia Smith were up to the task to keep them off the scoreboard. Calhoun took a 1-0 lead late in the first half when Emily Sorrow was able to put the ball in the back of the net for a goal.
The Lady Jackets held onto the lead for a while after that and had a chance early in the second half to add to it on three straight corner kicks, but Sonoraville turned them away. The Lady Phoenix had a couple more shots on goal in the 58th and 67th minute from Averi Walraven and Avery Hamilton, but the first narrowly missed wide right and the second was saved once again by Smith.
Sonoraville finally broke through in the 69th minute to equalize as Walraven took the ball and refused to be stopped as she drove it deep in the box and unleased a shot from a very tough angle on the short side of the goal that sailed over the goalkeeper and into the net to make it 1-1.
“We had talked about them trying to defend Averi to the left and force her right so we wanted the girls to clear the alley for her by flooding the left part of the box, and that goal was very similar to one Landon Donovan had in the World Cup a few years ago from a tough angle,” said Kenny Walraven. “We really needed that because time was getting shorter and shorter.”
Smith came through for Calhoun twice more in the second half to keep the game even and send it to overtime as she had saves in the 71st and 75th minute, and Sonoraville was then unsuccessful on a corner kick in the final minute of regulation.
Two minutes into the first overtime period, Hamilton delivered the eventual game-winner when she corralled a loose ball in the Calhoun box and deposited into the back of the net to give her team a 2-1 lead. The Sonoraville defense and goalkeeper Christian Bello did the job from there to keep the Lady Jackets off the scoreboard and seal a huge Lady Phoenix victory on their home field.
“(Avery) has been such a mature player this year,” said Kenny Walraven. “For 80 minutes she just gets beat up by the defense, but she just keeps playing. She just keeps working because she knows the opportu- nity is going to come. She kept after it and got her chance in overtime and took advantage of it.”
Calhoun coach Taylor Sumrall said his team just came up on the short end of a very close, hardfought game, but they will bounce back quickly with a lot left to play for in front of them.
“Both teams played a great game,” said Sumrall. “Sonoraville hung in there and never backed down even when they were behind. Sometimes it just doesn’t go your way, and today we were on the losing end. Our season isn’t over though. We still have a shot at getting a good seed for the state tournament. We’ve got to bounce back and come back next week trying to get better. Once you get into the postseason anything can happen. I’m looking forward to seeing where we go from here.”
Sonoraville honored their four seniors Prissilla Arambul, Lesly Ren- don, Kirsten Young and Sandi McMullin following the game as part of Senior Night. Walraven said they have been a good core group for Sonoraville girls soccer and have greatly impacted the amount of success the program has had.
“I’ve had this group since they were in the seventh or eighth grade,” said Walraven. “We’ve lost a few girls here and there, but these girls stuck it out. They are team players and really good kids. They have given us everything they’ve got, and I’m happy I got the chance to coach them.”
Sonoraville wrapped up their regular season on Tuesday with a nonregion contest at Allatoona. Calhoun visited Cass on Tuesday. (For details on those games, see Saturday’s Calhoun Times.) Calhoun will visit Adairsville on Thursday at 5 p.m. to wrap up the region and regular-season schedule.