Early goals help stand up for Maryville
By Grant Ramey | (grantr@thedailytimes.com)
When Maryville got sloppy in the second half, Heritage stood up. But four early goals made neither much of a factor.
The visiting Lady Rebels scored four quick goals in the game’s first 17 minutes to build an early lead en route to a 6-1 District 4-AAA win Tuesday night at Heritage High School.
“I think we got sloppy after the first four goals,” Maryville coach Bill Stooksbury told The Daily Times after the win.
“Saw a little of that at halftime, in the first half. It’s always good to get ahead of a team, and get on them, but once you do that you kind of lose your momentum.
“We were happy to get those four quick goals in the first half.”
Mackenzie Hutton was the first in the back of the net for Maryville (6-8-2), scoring off a Morgan McCord assist eight minutes in.
Katie Porter added a pair of goals within four minutes of each other — in the 11th and 15th minute, respectively, and both assisted by Carolyn Hobbs — to build the Maryville lead to 3-0.
“(It was) good hustle up top, following shots,” Stooksbury said of his team’s quick start. “They played a very high line and we managed to slip past that a couple of times.”
McCord scored just two minutes after Porter’s pair to give the Lady Rebels the four-goal advantage they took into the halftime break.
“They were very aggressive and they came out in the first half ready to play,” Heritage coach Bill Kee said.
“It took until the second half for this team to stand up. Second half, they stood up and they started playing.”
Casi Cline got Heritage on the baord in the second 40 minutes on an impressive goal from the right side, a cross-goal shot that beat the Maryville keeper between the goalie gloves and the cross bar to cut the Maryville lead to 5-1 in the 45th minute.
“It was very good coming from the extreme side,” Kee said. “The way she hit it, she just nailed it. It’s just one of those things she’s good at.”
Alicia Yarlett scored just seconds after the second half started on an assist from Hobbs. McCord added another goal later in the half on an assist from Ashley Griffith.
“I think all things considered, Heritage did a pretty good job,” Kee said.
“One of our favorite things is running an off-side trap, which was very effective tonight. And it’s hard to defend against. And the girls are really good at it, they’re very practiced at it.”
The match was the last time out for both team’s before they each host Senior Night.
Maryville will host Webb School on Oct. 10 at John Sevier Elementary School while Heritage plays host to Greenback Thursday night. Both matches are scheduled for 5:30 p.m. kickoffs.
The District 4-AAA tournament for both teams starts Oct. 13.
“We’re looking forward to getting there,” Stooksbury said of the postseason. “It’s been a long season. Dealt with a lot of adversity, had a lot of injuries we’ve had to work through.”
