Vipers turn it around against Webb
Mar. 22—HENDERSON — The Vance County girls' soccer team turned it around on Wednesday, winning over Webb 8-1 in their first outing against the Warriors.
The Vipers scored their first goal just 30 seconds into the game. In under a minute later, Vance County earned a free kick in the box. But it was hit poorly this time by Maria Dominguez-Galvez who pushed the attempt wide of the net after draining two free kicks the previous game.
Questionable decision-making from the Vipers gave the ball back to Webb, and on the following possession Vance County junior Lisa Hayes also pushed her shot attempt wide of the net.
The weather was much more suitable for game day as the Vipers enjoyed a balmy, spring afternoon for the matchup against Webb. On her second shot attempt, Hayes sent a well-struck ball off her left foot past the Webb goalie for Vance County's second goal of the afternoon.
The Vipers did a good job of controlling the game and keeping the ball on the offensive end of the pitch, but toward the end of the half, the Vipers allowed Webb scoring chances multiple times in the box.
In the second half, freshman Solana Gardner scored off the well-placed cross from Nicola Thompson to make it 3-0. Sophomore defensive back Selena Banda would have gotten the start for the Vipers, but she was sidelined with a Zoom class and was on the sidelines with a laptop and a pair of headphones to start the game.
Thompson scored the first goal of the game; and at their current rate, the Vipers were on pace to secure a 'Mercy Rule' shutout against their in-conference rivals.
Over halfway through the first period, the Vipers were on the attack once again. Advancing the ball into the box on a corner kick, Vance came close to notching goal number five. Thompson showed off her craftiness, dribbling around defenders, but took too strong of a touch on the breakaway and gave the ball away to the goalkeeper. But Thompson wasted no time on her next attempt, scoring with her left leg into the left half of the net, putting the Vipers up 5-0.
As the day turned to night, Vance County looked to keep its foot on the gas in the second half. However, the second half did not start according to plan. The Warriors mounted on attack, and off a corner kick drilled the ball so hard into the back corner of the goal that it bounced back into the field of play.
However, and still riding a big lead, the Vipers switched things around a bit, allowing those who normally play other positions the opportunity to score. Valeria Salazar-Arias, who normally plays center back, scored her first goal of the season. Senior goalkeeper, Jayana Stewart, also earned herself a goal in the field and the Vance County sidelines were getting loud.
The Vance County coaching staff threw Dominguez-Galvez back in to try and end the game, but it was unsuccessful. When time expired in regulation, the Vipers saw an even distribution in the scoring column.
STATSSolana Gardner (Fr.) — 2 GOALS, 1 AST
Maria Dominguez-Galvez (Fr.) — 1 AST
Lisa Hayes (Jr.) — 1 GOAL
Allison Lira (Fr.) — 1 GOAL
Vanesa Labra-Zuniga (Sr.) — 1 GOAL
Nicola Thompson (So.) — 1 GOAL, 2 AST
Jayana Stewart (Sr.) — 1 GOAL
