Southern Wayne’s Kenzi Aycock takes control of a loose ball while tightly marked by two East Wake defenders during second-half action. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
Jayda Harrell of Southern Wayne battles shoulder-to-shoulder with an East Wake defender, nearly locking arms as they race toward a loose ball. (Robert Taylor|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s girls’ varsity soccer team hosted the East Wake Warriors in a high-energy, defense-heavy match that ultimately ended in a 0–0 draw after two scoreless overtime periods. From the opening whistle, both teams showcased strong defensive tactics, frequent turnovers, and several scoring opportunities that were ultimately denied by resilient goalkeeping on both ends.
Southern Wayne opened the game with possession but was quickly disrupted by an early missed pass from Jayda Harrell, which resulted in a turnover and allowed East Wake to seize control. As the Warriors fought aggressively to maintain possession, the Southern Wayne defense was put under pressure.
Just over a minute into the match, a routine play turned tense when the ball rolled dangerously close to Southern Wayne’s goal. Goalkeeper Estrella Quirks Salazar responded quickly with a short but effective kick to clear the danger. Soon after, Paulina Rubio Villalobos sprinted down the sideline, forcing the opposing defender to kick the ball out of bounds. Harrell followed with a precise throw-in to Crystal Velasquez, who connected with Lismari Sanchez for an attempted drive, though East Wake managed to deflect the play and regain possession.
Throughout the first half, both teams exchanged control frequently, with East Wake’s pressure leading to multiple out-of-bounds plays. The Warriors’ goalkeeper showed quick reflexes in the early stages, intercepting a rolling ball before Southern Wayne could capitalize. Moments later, Salazar made a key defensive play, using her body to block a mid-range shot, demonstrating the calm presence she would maintain all game.
East Wake’s offensive persistence led to a penalty opportunity at the 31:30 mark. However, Salazar came through for the Saints with a crucial save, diving to her right and smothering the ball to keep the score level. The defensive trio of Sanchez, Rubio Villalobos, and Harrell formed a solid wall at midfield, consistently slowing East Wake’s advances and redirecting the ball away from danger.
At one point, Southern Wayne’s defense was forced to clear the ball multiple times near their own box, showing urgency and composure under pressure. Velasquez and Harrell were instrumental in transitioning the play from deep near the goal line to midfield, relieving pressure and helping regain control.
Near the 24-minute mark, East Wake fired a powerful shot toward goal that forced a rapid defensive response. Salazar and Jamiyah Lennox provided excellent coverage, keeping the visitors from breaking through. Moments later, Kenzi Aycock, playing a crucial role as goalkeeper, made a dramatic save by diving onto the ball during a scramble near the goal line, preventing a potential East Wake lead.
Sanchez remained a physical presence in midfield, breaking up plays and battling for loose balls. Rosilinda Quiroz and Lennox continued to lock down East Wake’s attackers around the 12-minute mark, limiting their ability to get clean looks on goal. With just over 10 minutes remaining in the half, Rubio Villalobos led a short run into enemy territory before the ball was cleared away.
East Wake earned a throw-in around the 10-minute mark, but Lennox quickly intervened, clearing the ball out near the box. Harrell, showing confidence from the backline, made a strong attempt at goal with seven minutes remaining, narrowly missing. Quiroz also made a drive from midfield just before the six-minute mark but couldn’t get enough power behind her shot to challenge the keeper.
Sabrina Leon came up with a key clearance around the five-minute mark, knocking the ball away from East Wake’s press. With 1:25 left in the half, Southern Wayne faced another test, but Aycock responded with a secure save on a low, bouncing shot. In the final seconds, Harrell took another low-effort attempt that was stopped, and the teams went into halftime locked in a scoreless tie.
Coming out of the break, both teams showed no signs of letting up. Southern Wayne relied on a strong defensive group—Molly Barrett, Salazar, and Aycock—to stay alert near their own goal, clearing several attempts from East Wake early in the half. Harrell remained consistent with her throw-ins, helping Southern Wayne maintain possession in key stretches.
Southern Wayne began pushing forward with Velasquez, Aycock, and Sanchez collaborating near the opposing goal. At the 26-minute mark, East Wake responded with a quick counterattack, leading to a dangerous attempt that was narrowly stopped by the Saints’ backline.
A few minutes later, Velasquez, Quiroz, and Sanchez attempted to surround an East Wake attacker near the top of the box, successfully diffusing the play before it developed into a shot. With just under 23 minutes left, the Warriors made another solid attempt, but once again, the Saints’ defense—led by Lennox, Aycock, and Mohaganee Miller—worked cohesively to shield the goal.
Midway through the second half, Aycock had a key touch, redirecting a pass near the goal and avoiding a scoring chance. Salazar, Angel Mouzone, and Lennox continued to communicate and shift well defensively, frustrating East Wake’s offense and pushing the ball upfield when possible.
With just under 10 minutes remaining, Southern Wayne found themselves under pressure. Aycock and Mouzone made two critical clearances to remove the ball from danger. Despite East Wake’s aggressive play, Southern Wayne stood firm, and the game remained scoreless at the end of regulation.
In the first overtime period, Southern Wayne came out with renewed energy. Harrell played aggressively, winning key duels and stepping up in pressure situations. Mouzone was especially effective in the midfield, clearing several loose balls that could have led to fast breaks for the Warriors.
At 7:38, Quiroz broke through and made a promising attempt, but the shot lacked the force to beat the keeper. Barrett delivered a well-placed corner kick shortly afterward, placing the ball near the front post where it was nearly redirected into the net. Sanchez, Velasquez, and Rubio Villalobos showed strong movement during the overtime period, linking up and putting East Wake’s defense to the test.
Despite several efforts, Southern Wayne could not find the breakthrough. East Wake continued to contest possession, and the first overtime period concluded without a goal.
Fatigue began to set in as both teams entered the final 10-minute overtime period. Just three minutes in, Aycock, back in goal, made a crucial catch on a high attempt, maintaining her composure under pressure.
Southern Wayne’s team defense remained locked in, with each player stepping into the right positions at the right moments. Though neither team managed to convert a scoring opportunity, the Saints moved the ball with confidence, and their communication on the field helped keep East Wake’s chances to a minimum.
Both squads created a handful of near chances in the closing minutes, but neither side could finish. Southern Wayne’s discipline, particularly in their defensive third, kept the Warriors from capitalizing late in the match.
While the score remained 0–0 through 100 minutes of play, the match was far from uneventful. Southern Wayne’s resilience and cohesion were evident throughout, especially in moments of high pressure. The combined efforts of Salazar and Aycock in goal, supported by the backline of Lennox, Harrell, and Leon, were central to the team’s defensive performance.
Midfielders like Sanchez, Mouzone, and Quiroz disrupted East Wake’s rhythm while contributing to forward pushes. Offensive threats including Velasquez and Rubio Villalobos created key opportunities, although East Wake’s defensive unit held firm.
