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School Sports
Lady Demons edge NEG on penalty kicks By Paul Durham | Sports Editor In an N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A girls soccer playoff match full of big saves by the goalkeepers for both teams Saturday evening, the biggest save was made by the goalpost. Specifically, the left post of the north goal on the Fike soccer field halted Northeast Guilford's final penalty-kick attempt by Lauren Elium, past the outstretched fingers of Lady Golden Demons goalkeeper Sarah Dillard, giving Fike a 4-3 decision on penalty kicks after 110 minutes of scoreless soccer. The clang of the ball hitting the ball triggered a joyous eruption from not only the Lady Demons, gathered at midfield, but a large group of Fike fans clustered along the northwest sideline. Five minutes later, Dillard, who stopped the second PK attempt by the Lady Rams, was still flush with energy. "I just had a lot of adrenaline flowing and everyone did back there," said the junior goalkeeper would insist she loved penalty kicks. "It was an exciting game and I'm glad we could finish it off." By the slimmest of margins, Fike (17-5-2), the No. 1 seed from the NEW 6 Conference, moved into the third round and will welcome Burlington Williams either Tuesday or Wednesday evening. Trying to find rationale in a disappointing defeat was head coach Jim Pielow of Northeast Guilford (17-4-3), the No. 2 seed from the Triad Conference. "Two years ago we won one on PKs in a similar situation," Pielow said. "Just a hair either way and who knows what happens?" Northeast Guilford managed four shots to two for Fike in the first 40 minutes but the Lady Demons found more opportunities in the second half. Statistics kept by the Fike bench showed an 18-12 advantage in shots throughout regulation, the twin 10-minute overtime periods and the pair of five-minute "golden goal" sessions before penalty kicks. Twice at point-blank range in regulation and once more in overtime, Fike players sent the ball screaming high over the crossbar and the relieved head of Lady Rams keeper Erin Cable, who had 12 saves. "There were probably five different players that had chances to put one in the net and didn't and that hurts," assessed Fike head coach Toni Varacchi. "When it comes down to this type of competition and this type of game, we really got lucky tonight. But I did think we had a better run of opportunities tonight." But the Lady Rams would have their own missed chance at a goal in regulation. With less than four minutes to play, a corner kick by the Lady Rams caromed off Dillard's hands and hit the left upper frame of the goal before bouncing back into play and across the end line for one of her 11 saves. "I'd like to see a replay of the one that looked like it was in down here in this corner," Pielow said. "I was on the sideline and didn't have the best angle but it sure looked like it was in." Fike defenders Kate Woodard, Natalie Winslow, Michelle Smith and Sarah Sallenger, among others, were instrumental in keeping Dillard out of one-on-one situations. "We get along really well and we have really good chemistry back there so we know when to step in for the other person," said Woodard, one of three seniors. "We know who's doing what without having to say it." As the whistle blew on the second five-minute extra session, the teams assembled at midfield for the five-shot round of penalty kicks. When Fike's leading scorer Tramicka James was denied by Cable on the first shot, there was a palpable sigh throughout the crowd of Fike fans. But Varacchi wasn't worried. "Watching 'Meat' (Dillard) take practice against (PKs), she saved quite a few and some that you wouldn't think a keeper would be able to," Varacchi said. "So I had confidence she'd be able to pull one out for us and she did." After Beth Hanson drilled in a shot in the second round, Dillard stopped Katie Burch's shot and the score was knotted 1-1 in kicks. Winslow and Meredith Pruden each connected for Fike as did NEG's Paige Hatfield and Alex Saganich. Finally, Kadie Barnes sent the fourth PK for Fike past Cable, leaving the spotlight to Elium and Dillard -- and the left post. "We just worked hard and we wanted it and that showed tonight, I think," Dillard said. "Everyone was into it and wanted the same thing and when a team wants the same thing, it works out." paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808
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