Eight girls named to all-region soccer squad

Jun. 24—Eight Haywood County girls were named to the All-Region 11 soccer team, and Pisgah head coach Joe Pinkston was named All-Region 11 Coach of the Year.

Selections are made by the North Carolina Soccer Coaches Association (NCSCA).

Region 11 is made up of 10 regional teams: East Henderson, Enka, Erwin, Franklin, North Buncombe, North Henderson, Pisgah, Smoky Mountain, Tuscola and West Henderson

There were a total of 29 girls selected for the all-region team — five from Pisgah and three from Tuscola — with Haywood County representing nearly a quarter of the selections.

Lady Bears

Pisgah is represented by five selections on the all-region team— seniors Alyssa Bridges and Jackie Castillo-Pina, juniors Jimena Andrade and Kennedy Barker and freshman Kenna Lawing.

All five of those players were also all-conference selections, with Bridges also winning Mountain 7 3A Conference Defensive Player of the Year.

Pinkston lead his team to a 17-5 record (10-2 conference) and a second-place finish in the conference.

The team pitched 13 shutouts in the regular season.

Pisgah entered the playoffs as the No. 10 seed, but fell 1-0 to North Iredell in the first round.

Lady Mountaineers

Tuscola had three all-region selections — seniors Cooper Richardson and Hannah Wells and freshman Kate Clark.

All three were all-conference selections, as well.

Head coach Liz Epps lead the Lady Mountaineers to a 12-6-2 record (8-3-1 in the conference) and pitched eight shutouts on the season.

Tuscola entered the playoffs as the No. 14 seed, but lost 5-0 to Concord in the first round.

SEE ALSO: Twelve girls named all-conference players