Jeff Linville

Staff Reporter

DOBSON — The Lady Eagles split two soccer games this week, losing one in overtime, then winning 3-0 in the next.

The first game was a heartbreaker, said Coach Matt Richardson. Surry Central was playing West Stokes, which is undefeated in conference play.

The first time the two teams played, the Eagles lost 4-1, and that was one of just two goals West Stokes has allowed all season in Northwest Conference play, noted Richardson.

In the rematch, the Eagles drew first blood in the 28th minute. Sarah Bruce hit a corner kick, and Laura Dobbins punched it in.

The lead remained 1-0 through halftime and much of the second half as well.

In the 70th minute, Haylee Harrison scored on a hard shot that trickled in off the fingertips of the keeper.

The Eagles had a two-goal lead with just 10 minutes left, but the Lady Wildcats rallied with two late scores to tie the game.

In overtime, the Eagles had the ball first and sent the first kick backward.

West Stokes’ Kelsey Perrell, who is going to play at High Point University, darted across midfield and beat the Eagles to the ball. She made a couple of touches, then bombed in a shot from about 35 yards away, said Richardson.

“She is a heck of a player, and it was a great shot,” he said.

It was frustrating to give away that game after working so hard to get that lead, the coach said. Still, he reminded his team that they were going against an undefeated team.

“To be able to challenge them and the heart we showed was very impressive,” he said. “I’m proud of the way we played in general and the effort we gave. It was good for them to show each other that they can compete at a high level if they wanted to.”

The very next day, the Eagles played Starmount and won 3-0.

Bruce scored off an assist from Dobbins in the third minute. She used one dribble forward and then lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the side netting of the back post, the coach said.

Later, Bruce made an almost identical play from the left side on a direct kick.

The third goal came from Haylee Harrison on a breakaway.

There was a lot of mental and physical strain from playing 100 minutes against West Stokes, the coach said.

The team played hard, but they weren’t that sharp or as quick to the ball, he said.

“They had several great chances right in front of the goal,” Richardson said of the Lady Rams. However, keeper Chandler Musson made some outstanding saves to keep them off the scoreboard.

“I’m glad to get the win,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot to improve on. I feel like we have seen improvement, and I believe the girls are motivated to continue to work hard and get better.”

The Eagles’ next game is Senior Night on Tuesday against South Stokes.