RONDA — Mount Airy opened its girls soccer season with a 3-2 win over East Wilkes.

The Lady Cardinals scored the first goal of the game, but the Lady Bears answered with three scores in the second half for the comeback.

The Cards got a breakaway and converted about midway through the first half, said Bear Coach Will Hurley.

Then the wind picked up, blowing into the faces of the Bears. The wind was slowing down every Mount Airy pass and scoring attempt, he noted.

In the second half, Mount Airy had Mother Nature on its side and took advantage.

About 10 minutes in, the Bears scored, then added another goal just two minutes later, both by co-captain Vanessa Armenta.

Midway through the second half, the Bears got a penalty kick, and Marissa Petri converted an insurance goal.

That goal made the difference after East Wilkes posted a second score.

For the first game of the season, the second half was pretty good, Hurley said.

After a shaky first half, the girls communicated much better in the second half.

The team lost a lot of seniors last year, including all-conference performers Lindsay Casstevens and Summer Hamilton and keeper Morgan Hawks.

Hurley said the new goalie did an outstanding job, especially considering that Alia Halpern is just a freshman playing her first varsity game. Alia made 13 saves.

Jessica Miranda was another freshman who made good plays, he said.

This is a good group of kids who have been working hard in practice trying to get ready, said Hurley. Some players even took it upon themselves to look into indoor soccer leagues in Winston-Salem to get more experience.

The team is still waiting the arrival of one captain. Andi Moore is still playing with the basketball team. When the season is over, Moore will join Armenta and Beasley Nester.

Moore and Petri were honorable mentions to the all-conference team last year.

Today, the Bears host Thomasville in a game moved up to accommodate basketball.

The Lady Bears play hoops at Bishop McGuinness tonight, while Thomasville’s team is at North Surry. So the soccer match was moved to 4 p.m. so that players and fans can make it to the playoffs games.