NRHS tops Lady Bulldogs

Published 10:23 pm Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Nansemond River High School's Karin Kleps pushes forward past Emma Marston of King's Fork High School during Monday's match-up. The Lady Warriors triumphed for a 7-0 home win.

Nansemond River High School’s Karin Kleps pushes forward past Emma Marston of King’s Fork High School during Monday’s match-up. The Lady Warriors triumphed for a 7-0 home win.

The Nansemond River High School girls’ soccer team did what it could to maintain its playoff hopes on Monday when it produced a 7-0 win over King’s Fork High School, pleasing the home crowd.

Lady Warriors head coach Darryl Yandle said, “King’s Fork was a bit weaker, so I don’t think we played to our full potential, but we have (performed) a lot worse this season, so it was kind of a status-quo game.”

Still he complimented the Lady Bulldogs’ offense.

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“They played better than what I expected,” he said. “They actually probably had three or four good scoring opportunities that just didn’t go in.”

For Nansemond River, injuries have been a constant companion this season, and they have only increased in number. Earlier in the year, Sara Gallagher, a senior and leader on the team, blew out her knee, starting goalkeeper Kaitlyn Higgins seriously injured her neck and recently Emily Leverone has also been sidelined for the season with a knee injury.

This has forced the Lady Warriors to look to their youth for assistance, particularly on offense. Both of Yandle’s starting forwards are freshmen, and they shined on Monday.

Alina Rivera led all scorers by registering a hat trick.

“It just all came together well for her this game,” Yandle said. “It’s good, she was in the right place at the right time, doing what she had to do, but she made it happen, and she is a freshman, so she’s keeping her composure.”

Kendall Webster, the other forward, also scored.

“They both do a decent job as freshmen,” Yandle said.

Also scoring goals for the Lady Warriors were Cali Valdivieso, Courtney White and Dawn Wright.

The top six teams in the district make it into the district tournament, and Yandle explained the Lady Warriors’ tenuous position.

“Since we lost to Oscar Smith, if Indian River ties or beats Oscar Smith, we’re out,” he said. “If Oscar Smith beats Indian River, we’re tied for sixth, and we’ll have to have our (tie-breaker) game, which will probably be Thursday or Friday.”

If the Lady Warriors get the chance to play in the post-season, Yandle said that to make a deep playoff run they’re “just going to have to dig down and have a gut check, and find a little extra that they haven’t been giving.”

On the opposite side of the field, the Lady Bulldogs have endured a difficult season, and they were still in search of their first district win on Tuesday night, when they closed out their regular season schedule by hosting Lakeland High School, the team with which they were tied for last place in the district.

Nansemond River (6-8-1, 3-4-1) hosted Great Bridge High School Tuesday evening in what was also its own final regular-season game.