Asheville – Asheville won a 1-0 nail-biter at West Henderson (17-1), dealing the Falcons their first defeat. The victory eased the sting of dropping a showdown at T.C. Roberson two games and four days prior.
The MAC overall title ended in a tie between those two 4A powers. Asheville (15-3-2; 11-1) was awarded the top playoff seed, ahead of Roberson (13-5; 11-1). The league’s leading 3A schools are A.C. Reynolds (15-6; 7-4) and Enka (8-10-1; 6-6). Playoffs begin this week.
Roberson and Asheville split in their two-game series, each winning at home. AHS rolled 5-2 on March 27. The Rams prevailed 3-2 a month later, on April 29.
They might eventually meet in 4A playoffs. “It feels great whenever we win against T.C.,” Asheville leading scorer Lily Foo said of the rivalry. “We’ve been pretty even over my four years” on AHS varsity.
Rams Win Thriller
T.C. Roberson edged Asheville 3-2 at home, evening their series. Sarah Freeman scored the winning goal from near midfield. The senior got a rare spot kick from on the field for a better angle, instead of the more common free kick from out of bounds. She blasted it over the keeper’s reach.
The score was 1-1 at halftime, on goals by Ram Aria Giles and Cougar Lila Allen. Roberson took a 2-1 lead on senior Shayne Pratt’s goal. Her long shot bounced off freshman GK Ellie Wiegand-Reavis‘ hands, and trickled in.
But Asheville tied it. Caroline Dews’ long free kick was deflected by Ram GK Lidia Fiore up to the crossbar, and bounced down in front of the goal. Foo foiled TCR, alertly kneeing the ball into the net.
But Freeman shot her game-winner less than two minutes later. She also scored in a 2-0 win at ACR on May 7. Roberson has potent, balanced goal scoring with MAC leader Kate Pratt (22), Giles (16), Shayne Pratt (15), and Freeman (9).
At halftime, Coach Flowe challenged his players. “There’s four of you and one (the GK) of her. What are we afraid of?!” Flowe is a superb motivator. He led AHS boys to the 2000 state title, and girls to 2011 state finals.
The Lady Rams obliged head coach Leslie Lamb Sloan’s halftime urging for midfielders to intercept Cougar forwards’ pass-backs. “You’re allowing them to have the ball. Our defenders are occupied. So, midfielders, you got to be there. Don’t allow shots.” Sloan later told the Tribune, “They stepped up. They got to the ball.”
Rams reminded each other with tips during play, such as “focus!” and “follow your ‘man’” in defending. GK Fiore (1.10 GAA) implored teammates to “hold the line” of defense, and later said that they did so. “We played high off my line. We kept it high and tight.”
Fiore credited in-game “communication” as a key to Ram success. She said that she and defender Lucy Sloan try to lead. “We know positioning” teammates should be in. “Talking keeps us focused.”
Neutralizing Maxon
Roberson and Asheville both played 3A power West Henderson once, in playoff-caliber tune-ups. The Falcons beat TCR 2-1 on March 6, but lost 1-0 to AHS on Friday, May 3, in an intense defensive battle. Coach Flowe praised both teams’ fitness, energetic play, and skilled passing and shooting.
Foo was credited with the game’s only goal. Her left-footed corner kick curled in front of the West goal. A Falcon defender errantly headed the ball into her own goal instead of away from it, with 1:45 to play. Foo said, “We picked up the intensity” in final minutes to break the scoreless deadlock.
Senior Foo has 19 goals, and red-hot sophomore Peyton Case has 18 goals for AHS. Both average nearly a goal per contest. Having two leading scorers is a welcome change for Foo, who before carried the load. “We’re more aggressive in the ‘box’” near the opposing goal, and faster in the attack, Foo explained. “We play in a tandem up front,” in a 4-2-2 formation. “Me and ‘Pey’ can head the ball upfield, and pass back” to midfielders to sustain ball control before finding an opening.
“We controlled the ball” well versus West, Coach Flowe said. “We played hard.” He praised netminding of Wiegand-Reavis (0.94 GAA), and defenders preventing Falcons from nearing the goal.
Containing West superstar Marianne Maxon was decisive. Maxon said a key is that the Cougars “won most 50-50 balls in midfield.” She praised Cougar consistent defensive discipline, in keeping “two defenders back” to neutralize her. AHS has mammoth defenders such as Dew, Jesse Smith, and Evelyn Bick.
Senior Bick knocked the ball away from Maxon, after Maxon dribbled in to take a close shot. Soon after, Maxon drilled a long shot. But Wiegand-Reavis made the save.