NRHS girls top Lady Cavaliers
Published 2:52 pm Saturday, April 20, 2013
In the second meeting between the two Suffolk teams this season, Nansemond River High School’s girls’ soccer team got the better of Lakeland High School again, this time on the road with a 5-1 victory in which five different players scored.
“We started doing some things right compared to the last several games we’ve played,” Lady Warriors head coach Darryl Yandle said.
Nansemond River High School’s Dawn Wright jockeys for possession with Lindsey Bagley of Lakeland High School during the Lady Warriors’ 5-1 road victory on Friday evening. Wright had three assists to help power the Nansemond River attack. (Melissa Glover photo)
He said his team “spread the field better, kept our defensive shape, stopped going straight up the center as much” on offense where the bulk of the opposing team’s defense is. Rather, Nansemond River played it wide and crossed the ball, which paid dividends.
The Lady Warriors’ scorers were Emily Leverone, Jenesci Herrera, Tayler Pearl, Cali Valeivieso and Kendall Webster.
Yandle praised Dawn Wright for her contribution to the win. She had three assists.
Nansemond River is once again without key contributors due to major injury. After playing without senior center midfielder Sara Gallagher for most of last season when she blew out her knee, the Lady Warriors are having to press on without her again after she recently sustained the same injury to the other knee.
The team also lost goalkeeper Kaitlyn Higgins for the season after she suffered a serious neck injury in Tuesday’s game against Hickory High School.
Lakeland head coach Matt Crowder would have liked to see more energy up front from his team.
“Honestly, I thought we came out a little flat,” he said. “We were looking to move the ball at times, but we weren’t playing consistent. (Nansemond River has) got a good ball team.”
In their last game against the Lady Warriors, Lakeland was shut out, but it got on the scoreboard this time thanks to a goal from sophomore striker Julianna Durand.
“We’re getting better,” Crowder said. “It’s just going to take a while.”
He cited senior midfielder Kristen Vick, in particular, for having an excellent game.
“I thought she stepped to the ball really well, she moved the ball well, she tackled well, she played really, really hard,” he said. “It might have been one of her better games that she’s had this season.”
Nansemond River High School (5-4-1, 1-2-1) travels to Grafton High School in Yorktown on Monday. Indian River High School will host Lakeland (2-5-1, 0-4) on Tuesday.
