Veterans girls storm past Thomson
Thomson’s girls soccer team knows what Liberty County’s boys soccer team went through a night earlier on the same field.
Veterans didn’t really play all that well, yet cruised.
The Warhawks took 18 minutes to get on the scoreboard but were in control throughout and had a strong second half en route to an 8-0 win Wednesday over Thomson in a the first round of the GHSA Class AAAA girls soccer playoffs.
The Region 2-AAAA champs improved to 17-2 behind two-goal nights from Maranda Krirat and Danielle Coumbs, a pair of freshmen, and a generally steady performance that kept Thomson (4-9-2) from mounting much of a threat.
TWO WHO MATTERED
Janeyece Brown: In addition to scoring the Warhawks’ third goal, Brown was all over her portion of the field and always around the ball as Veterans kept the Bulldogs from getting much going on offense.
Maddy Davis: One of the Warhawks’ nine sophomores, Davis had a goal and assist.
WORTH NOTING
Normal stuff: Veterans at home early in the playoffs is nothing new. The Warhawks went undefeated in region play for the fifth straight time.
Familiar stuff: Veterans won last year’s first-round game 6-0 over Southeast Whitfield and topped South Effingham 5-0 in the first round two years ago.
Domination: Veterans gave up one region goal this year, breaking a long streak. The Warhawks’ lone losses have been to Stratford and FPD.
THEY SAID IT
Veterans head coach Haley Walker: “We’re still looking to put a complete game together. I was on maternity leave for the first part of the season, so coming back, we’ve been talking about playing a complete game from start to finish.”
Walker on this not being one of them: “We have to be the slowest starting team in the history of Georgia soccer, I think.”
Walker on anticipating stronger competition: “We’re ready to see some competition. We’re ready for the next step. These girls need to be pushed.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
Veterans hosts St. Pius X, a 10-0 winner over Southeast Whitfield, next Wednesday.
This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 9:25 PM with the headline "Veterans girls storm past Thomson."