By Brighton McConnell
On Monday, May 12, the Brevard High School women’s soccer team played their final game of the season.
The Lady Devils had beaten West Caldwell High School 7-0 on May 8, to earn them a spot in the second round of playoffs, and faced Polk County High School at home on May 13. Unfortunately, they had a rougher game ahead of them, and fell to the Wolverines, 4-1.
Brevard started out the game playing well, and kept good possession of the ball for the first few minutes of the game. They were the first on the scoreboard in the seventh minute, after sophomore Catherine Lemel fed a pass up the middle of the field to junior Rachel Holmes. Holmes gained control of the ball, and was able to put a shot past the Polk keeper to put the Lady Devils up 1-0.
But a few minutes later, Brevard’s luck was turned around when Polk’s striker blazed through the back line of defense, and shot the ball into the back of the net. A few minutes later, Polk earned a corner kick, and the ball went off of a Brevard defender into the goal. The teams went into halftime with the score at 2-1, in favor of the Wolverines.
The second half didn’t fair much better for the Lady Devils. In the 50th minute, Polk got the ball in Brevard’s half of the field, and were able to convert the possession into a goal. They scored again just three minutes later.
Brevard did have more chances to score throughout the game, but were unable to expand on their opportunities. Senior Jessica Porter had a shot from outside the goalie box in the first half that was just off target, and bounced off the crossbar. Holmes also created another chance to score, when she sent in a cross from the left side of the goalie box, in the second half. But before the ball could connect with one of the attacking Brevard players, the Polk keeper was able to break up the play and save the ball.
The Wolverines was able to keep the Lady Devils scoreless in the second half, however, and held on to win the game, with a final score of 4-1. The loss knocked Brevard out of the state playoffs, and propelled Polk into the third round.
The Lady Devils finish their season with a 9-10-1 record, and a 5-5-1 record at home.