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Anna Gray helps defend the Lady Devil turf during the season opener on Monday night. Gray was named Player of the Game.
The Lady Devils soccer team kicked off their season on Monday night by hosting the 3A Franklin Panthers. Going into the game, the Devils had never beaten the Panthers. The Devils would get on the scoreboard first, 22 minutes into the game, when freshman Lola Collins would find senior Kaylee Simmons for a goal. The Devils would go into halftime holding a slim 1-0 lead over the Panthers.
Ten minutes into the second half sophomore Anna Gray would find senior Mazie Helpman with a long ball, and Helpman would finish it off with a goal. Fifteen minutes later, freshman Mya Burrows-Kurr would add a goal off a pass from freshman Karena Cline.
One minute later, the Devils would add to their lead when senior Avery Maples would find Simmons for her second goal of the game. With 11 minutes left, Helpman would steal the ball from a Panthers defender and add her second goal of the night. The scoring would be capped off when Cline took a corner kick, finding Burrows-Kurr for a header into the goal.
It would be the second time the freshman duo would connect on goals for the game. Swain finished the game taking a 6-0 win over the Panthers.
“Overall, I was really happy with our performance. It was great to get the season started with a win.” said Head Coach Scott Cline. “We had some nervous players to start the game, but once they got in the flow of the game they played really well. We also appreciate the crowd that we had for our home opener.”
On defense, sophomore Anna Gray led the way with 11 steals/clears, followed by senior Jadyn Perez with 6, senior Avery Maples with 5, and senior Jade Henry, sophomore Elke Reinert, and freshman Karena Cline each with 3. In the first half, senior Mazie Helpman recorded 3 goalkeeper saves. In the second half, Freshman Gracie Sutton recorded 3 goalkeeper saves.
The Player of the Game for the Lady Devils was Sophomore Anna Gray. “Anna played a great game working in the back line and making some good recovery runs on defense,” said Cline.
The Lady Devils travel to 3A Smoky Mountain High School today (March 3) for another non-conference match up. Smoky Mountain is coming off a 3-0 win over Erwin High School in their season opener.