NEW MARKET - A defensive adjustment at halftime had offensive payoffs in the second half as Southmont’s girls soccer team defeated Lebanon 3-1.
After giving up a first-half goal, the Mounties put the next three on the board as they move to 3-1 on the season, and stand at 2-0 in the Sagamore Conference after a win over WeBo last week.
“We beefed up the defense in the second half,” South coach Roger Azar said. “We dropped a fourth defender back, and that locked down Lebanon’s offense. Their first goal was on a defensive mistake that was on me, and from that point on, we played an excellent match. We got tons of shots and I’m very proud of the girls. They did a heck of a job.”
The three goals came off the feet of three players.
Elle Gray scored with 8:38 left in the first half to tie the match when she punched in a shot off a pass from Lillie Odum. Odum had picked a pocket clean deep in the corner and flipped the pass to the middle, where Gray was waiting.
The second goal came at 13:40 of the second half when Jessica Hale set sail from midfield. After winning the footrace, the junior found the net.
The final goal came with 10:34 left in the match, when Hale started things with a lazer-pass to Odum. The senior needed only one clear look.
“Jessica is just so calm under pressure,” Azar said of Hale. “She can calm the ball down so quickly and then get it to others. Lillie (Odum) did a heck of a job tonight. She hustled every minute, and it paid off. We have some serious weapons on this team.”
A new weapon had to be found in goal after starting netminder Ashlynn Maddox broke her wrist in practice Monday.
Up stepped sophomore Olivia Snapp, who turned away five of the six shots she faced.
“She got a half hour of practice Monday,” Azar said, “and then a little extra time with me, She’s a quick learner, caught on right away and really stepped up.”
Maddox will have a hard cast put on this week, which means she cannot be in goal. There is a chance she might be able to play in a field spot. “We will find a place for her,” Azar said.
The fact that almost all of the second half was played in Lebanon’s defensive end helped take a little pressure off the new goalie.
The Mounties had 14 shots on goal in the second half, compared to only two for the Tigers, who fall to 1-3 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
“We came out hard early,” first-year Lebanon coach Sam Parsons said. “That first goal got us going, but South made some adjustments and that bothered us in the second half. We also had to adjust to the pace of playing the match on turf. It’s early in the season, and we are working hard. Everyone is still adjusting to everything. We did get a great match from our goalie (Felicity Franks). She had some really tough saves. Considering its the first she has played in a couple years is a good sign for us.”
Franks was peppered with shots, especially in the second half, and had four point-blank saves. Overall, she faced 20 Southmont shots on goal, and turned 17 away.
The single Tigers goal was scored by GraceAnne Newman on an assist from Caroline Burkeybyle at the 10:48 mark of the first half.
“We had another player who didn’t get in the scoring sheets,” Azar noted. “Chloe Lynn was probably our hardest working player tonight. She was all over the field, and considering that she is playing with a tweaked ankle just makes it better. This was also a really big win for the team - we haven’t beaten Lebanon in quite a while.”
The first-year Mounties coach is happy with early-season progress.
“My philosophy is that we take it game-by-game,” he said. “We can only see the past, and adjust to what has happened and try to get better. We’ve been scrimmaging with the boys team, and they come right at us. It will help make us better.”
The Tigers are idle until the 31st, when they come back to Montgomery County to take on Crawfordsville.
The Mounties will hit the road for the first time Thursday with a trip to North Putnam. They are back at home Saturday against Covington and then head to North Montgomery next Tuesday to take on the Chargers.
