Asheville – Asheville and T.C. Roberson lead a ferocious Mountain Athletic Conference girls’ soccer regular season race.
Unbeaten Asheville (14-0-1) is 7-0 in the MAC, as of earlier this week. The Cougars are a half-game ahead of T.C. Roberson (9-5-1; 7-1 MAC), and 2.5 games up on A.C. Reynolds (10-4-2; 4-2-1). ACR lost to the two teams ahead of it.
The Cougars shut out Reynolds 3-0 in a physically intense match at home April 20, after edging Roberson 3-2 in a crucial road game March 29. The AHS-TCR rematch is at Asheville on Monday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m.
First, this week, reigning MAC champ Roberson blanked North Buncombe (5-8-1; 2-4) 9-0 and played at Enka (9-4; 4-3). TCR beat Reynolds 4-0 on April 13, and hosts the Rockets on May 8 at 6:30 p.m.
Asheville won 9-0 (including over Erwin Monday) for eight of its 14 wins. Roberson won 9-0 in four of its first seven victories. Last week, TCR won 5-1 at Hendersonville (10-4) and 2-0 at explosive West Henderson (15-2).
Last season, Roberson (17-4-1) was 12-0 in the MAC. AHS (14-2-2) and ACR (13-6-3) were both 8-2-2, and Enka (12-10-1) was 6-6.
This time, Enka closed the gap on ACR in battling for third overall. The teams tied 1-1 at Enka on Monday. Enka is primed to make the 3A playoffs as the MAC’s top 3A squad, ahead of NBHS.
The Sugar Jets are coached by Jane Cannon, and led by S.K. Whittemore’s 16 goals. They shut out Erwin (2-13; 0-7) by 6-0 on April 19.
Cougars on Prowl
The Foo Fighters are a popular rock band fronted by charismatic singer-guitarist Dave Grohl. Local soccer has its own “Foo Fighters” in talented and tenacious Asheville, led by swift Lily Foo. The junior forward leads AHS with 20 goals, often leading rushes on the left side.
Foo scored two of the team’s three goals in beating Reynolds and its 20-goal scorer Katie Purnell by 3-0 a week ago. Foo opened scoring from the left side, 12:45 into the match. As she often does after following through with a hard shot, Foo riveted her attention on its path toward the goal. It sailed up and in.
Cougar Gracie Smith’s free kick from the 30-yard-line deflected off of Claire Rhoden (1.37 GAA) and in for a 2-0 lead, with 12:55 left in the first half. AHS senior GK Claire Grant (0.47) got the shutout.
Asheville led 2-0 at halftime, as it did over Roberson on March 29. But the Rams tightened that game, which AHS barely won 3-2. AHS head coach Mike Flowe referenced that in his halftime speech, when urging the Cougars to “extend” their lead over Reynolds. He figured a 3-0 lead would be decisive, by how Asheville was severely limiting Rocket passing and rushes past midfield.
“The next goal has to be ours,” Flowe proclaimed. “The third goal is going to end this…We’ll get that third goal!”
Foo obliged, scoring merely 2:10 into the second half on a very athletic goal from the right side. Foo swiftly whirled around clockwise while shooting, blasting the ball into the net. That closed the scoring.
Coach Flowe, at halftime, also touted setting up more close-in, high-percentage shots. “Let’s be more aggressive. Get to the ball. Get to the front” of the ACR net. “Take the shots!”
Cougar freshman Peyton Case has 16 goals, and sophomore Ellie Railey has 12. They flow in Flowe’s offense. Railey and Foo each registered a three-goal “hat trick” in a 9-0 win over McDowell. Sadie Hambright had a hat trick in a 9-0 win over NBHS, as Cougars took turns in the spotlight.
Reynolds head coach Patrick Gladys is impressed with both AHS and TCR. “Asheville has skillful players at every position, and plays more like a club team that can possess the ball all day — and look pretty doing it.” Roberson head coach Josh Martin praised how Asheville is skillfully “strong all over the field.”
‘Commissioner Gordon’
Martin’s Lady Rams get praise in return. ACR Coach Gladys calls TCR “dangerous in the attack,” with several seasoned scorers. He said that “TC has some great goal scorers,” and can beat anyone around.
Roberson has a link to action hero Batman, who saved Gotham City from villains while coordinating with Police Commissioner Gordon. In local soccer’s Gotham of Skyland, Kelly Gordon orchestrates fighting of foes.
The junior midfielder is a magnificent shooter and dribbler, who electrifies Ram rushes to the opposing net. She leads TCR with 12 assists. Her eight goals are clutch ones.
Gordon scored the final goal in TCR’s 4-0 win over Reynolds. She opened Ram scoring at Hendersonville, to tie the game at 1-1. TCR pulled away. Ram goals were by Gordon, sophomore Kate Pratt, freshman Izzy Fleming, and senior Reina Sedman on a penalty kick.
Shayne Pratt, a junior, scored twice against Reynolds. She and Gordon each scored a hat trick in TCR’s 9-0 win over Erwin April 11. Shayne Pratt and sophomore defender Lucy Sloan both lead Roberson with ten goals.
Coach Martin said HHS forwards pressured TCR defensively well with a “high line in back,” similar to a basketball full-court press. The Rams effectively countered it in the second half by “playing the ball wide” with crossing passes to open teammates.
Ram senior goalkeeper Riley Waites averages allowing precisely one goal per game. Freshman Journee McDowell backs her up. The Ram roster is split evenly between all four grades. This provides continuity.
Swan Song
Martin has coached TCR soccer for seven seasons, in 2016-2023. He is moving on to coach at Knox Catholic High School in Knoxville, Tenn., near his relatives.
At Roberson, Martin succeeded N.C. Soccer Hall of Famer Rob Wilcher, after being his assistant. Wilcher won state titles in 2002, ‘03, ‘13 and more than 1,000 games in 29 Ram seasons. He also led the Lady Rams in 1994-2016.
Coach Martin thanked TCR “players, families, and the Roberson community.” Ram players are eager to send him out as a champion.