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Prep Roundup
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• Public Schools • Lake Norman High School • top story
2008 May-07
GIRLS SOCCER: Lake Norman 3, Asheboro 1
Wildcats win playoff opener, earn rematchBy Brian Meadows
MOORESVILLE — Expectations are high for Lake Norman’s girls soccer team, which is why no one was beaming Wednesday after the Wildcats defeated Asheboro 3-1 in the first round of the 3A state playoffs. The players critiqued themselves. Harshly. “We need to pick it up, because if we don’t play better, we’re not going very far,” junior Alexa Del Tufo said. The third-ranked Wildcats dominated scoring chances but struggled to put away the Mid-Piedmont Conference’s No. 4 seed. Asheboro won only six games during the regular season and was outscored 63-55 in the process, yet with a couple more favorable bounces Wednesday, the Blue Comets could have led 2-1 early in the second half. Lake Norman junior Hannah Graham said communication has been lacking the last few games. “Coach (Jon Mertes) had to scream at us in the second half to actually get us to realize it,” Graham said, shaking her head. “It’s the playoffs. You can’t do that. “We’re just not talking the way we have been. If we don’t talk we can’t help each other out, and if we don’t help each other out, we’re going to play like you just saw.” Even without injured offensive leaders Sarah Tang and Jackie Weston, the Wildcats (22-1-1) had too much firepower for Asheboro (6-10-2) and its goalkeeper Michelle Leach, who made 14 saves. Two great passes by Del Tufo and Alyssa Retundie set up Caroline Moffett’s goal in the 16th minute for a 1-0 halftime lead. Asheboro, which hit the crossbar in the first half, nearly equalized in the 50th minute. Kendall Stanley’s free kick skipped through goalkeeper Mollie Zimmer’s hands and bounced off the left post. Zimmer alertly dove on the ball to prevent a rebound shot. Retundie fed Graham for a score and Tara Johnson assisted Lauren Vawter’s tally before Ashe-boro got on the board. Stanley’s free kick with 13 minutes left eluded Zimmer. “This point in time, it’s all about focus,” Mertes said. The Wildcats are focused on playing better — and revenge. They host Porter Ridge (19-4-1) on Saturday. The Pirates ended Lake Norman’s season in 2007 with a 1-0 victory in the state quarterfi-nals.
“I want to play them so bad,” Graham said, smiling.
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