The Manchester Girls Soccer team recently fell 4-2 in their first district game against Discovery School at home on Wednesday.
With three of their starters out due to injuries, Coach Jacob Iles said that the Lady Mavericks struggled to get into proper position and keep their spacing on the field.
"Offensively we could not dribble and pass as sharply as I had hoped, but that will come with time as we practice together," he said. "Defensively we held strong in the back line. We kept them to having minimal chances on their offensive end."
Both Manchester and Discovery went scoreless for all four quarters of regular game play, sending both teams into two 10 minute segments of overtime.
With heat from the summer sun bearing down on both teams, girls from both Manchester and Discovery took continuous water breaks to rehydrate and rest their tired muscles.
"The heat and humidity cannot be underplayed during these games," Iles said. "Our girls kept fighting and as a coach, that's all I can ask for. The sun was intense but they would have stayed until dark if the referees let them keep playing."
Despite a tremendous effort and many scoring attempts from both Discovery School and Manchester, the overtime segments ended and the score remained 0-0.
Now the only way to decide the game was to send both teams into penalty kicks.
Anna Kate Griffin, Annsley Smith, Olivia Fulton, Ivy Sowell, and Thea Trammell were chosen to kick for the Lady Mavericks. Lanie Potter continued her job as goalie to prevent any successful kicks from Discovery School.
"I try to put the best ball strikers on the spot," Iles said. "All I tell them is to strike the ball firmly to a corner. Half of taking penalty kicks is mental, so I try to stay out of their heads."
The Manchester and Discovery girls each had one chance to strike the ball, and the teams were given up to five chances to kick until the game was decided by a referee.
Sowell and Trammell both scored on their kicks, adding two goals for Manchester, but Discovery School proved to be too much and took home the district with after scoring 4.
"I was disappointed that we didn't pull it out," Iles said. "It was our first district game and we would have liked to pull it out. But we have five more to play and the girls will be ready."
Lady Maverick Goalie Lanie Potter proved herself to be very determined in this game, stopping ball after ball that Discovery shot towards the goal during regular game play and in overtime.
"She is really understanding the position now and is very dependable for a first year player," Iles said.
He also commended Ellie Grace Merrell, Olivia Fulton, and Annsley Smith on their defense skills during this game.
"They never get to come out of the game and I yell at them more than any other position," he said. "They have immense pressure on them and they rise to the occasion every time."
