|
North flies past Wilson
North Medford forward Kelly Vilarino (15) moves the ball toward the Wilson defense in Saturday's playoff game. After a slow start, the Black Tornado advances in the Class 4A playoffs Midway through the first half, the North Medford girls soccer team appeared to be sleep-walking through its Class 4A playoff match against Wilson on Saturday at Hoffbuhr Field. Substituting out a handful of his best players, the sixth-year coach sent a message: The postseason is here, and play-time is over. "Every game could be our last game," said senior central midfielder and co-captain McKenzie Weiler. "When he pulls us off, he says, 'You need to pick it up, and you're not leading this team if you're gonna play like this.' He really makes us think about it and want it more." North responded by getting a Weiler goal in the 28th minute, then dominating the second half and using senior Julia Clark's breakaway tally in the 44th minute to secure a 2-0 first-round victory. "If the girls come to play, with the ability they have, we'll go a long ways, I think," said Darcy, whose 2000 team won in the first round, then lost in the second round in a shootout at Central Catholic. North ensured advancement over the Trojans (6-6-1), the Portland Interscholastic League's third seed, by separating in the second half. The Tornado had a 10-0 edge in second-half shots and a 3-0 advantage in corner kicks after the break. Both squads fired five shots in the first half. Wilson coach Michelle Potestio said a leg injury to senior forward Hillary Watson 11 minutes into the match was a big blow to the Trojans. Watson, co-player of the year in the PIL this season, went down on a collision inside the North penalty box and may have suffered a broken leg, according to Potestio. "She's our real aggressor up top, and I think that affected us," said Potestio, whose team began its bus trip down from Portland at 6:30 a.m. Saturday morning. "We just couldn't find the rhythm. We're definitely a much better team than was out here today." Despite a mediocre showing, the Tornado had a 1-0 halftime edge on Weiler's goal. Sophomore forward Kadi Driver set the play up by controlling a loose ball near the top of the Wilson penalty box and passing back. Weiler didn't get much on the left-footed shot, but Trojans junior goalkeeper Erika Torrey overran it, and it bounced off her right arm and into the net. "It really wasn't a goal," Weiler said. "Kadi Driver gave an awesome drop, and I didn't get the right footing on it but..." Less than four minutes into the second half, Clark provided a cushion for North. Normally a fullback, Clark took advantage of some time at forward by knocking the ball away from a Trojans defender near midfield and sliding to the ball between the legs of Torrey. The goal brought to life Tornado assistant coach Wayne McNaught's premonition. "My assistant coach had a dream about Clark last night; he was telling me that Julia was up front and scored a goal," Darcy said. "So I said, 'OK, let's see how good your dreams are.' And I put her up there." Clark played most of the way at her usual fullback spot, where she teamed with senior co-captain Denali Tice, junior Emily Dunn and sophomore Karen Thiebes to shackle the Wilson offense. Freshman Caitlin Seeley recorded the shutout in goal. Although North was unable to score again after Clark's tally, the Tornado kept the pressure on. Attacking down the flanks were senior outside midfielders Emily Schuler and Lindsey Arkenburg; solidifying the central midfield were Weiler and junior Lisa Munyon; and staying aggressive up front were sophomores Kelly Vilarino, Whitney Major and Jessica Bartalini. North's second-half success was in response to Darcy's halftime admonitions. "I just told them that one goal was not going to hold up in the game, and I asked them if they really wanted it," Darcy said. "And they do. That was it. So they did the rest. "They didn't play the way they were capable of paying the first half. ... And in the second half, they settled down and started passing." And that's why the Tornado remains wide awake in the race for the Class 4A state title. Reach reporter Tim Pyle at 776-4483 or e-mail tpyle@mailtribune.com |
