PA Varsity Soccer Battles Tough Foes

Recent outings for the Piedmont Academy varsity soccer teams have been against quality opponents but coach Michael Wilson knows the experience gained will prove beneficial in the long run.

Varsity Girls

The Lady Cougars fell to John Milledge Academy 3-1 last week. Caitlyn Young set up Taylor Patterson for the lone goal for Piedmont which occurred in the first half.

“I thought we played well overall,” Wilson said. “The girls fought hard and gave up the third goal with 10 minutes left at a time when we were trying to push forward and get the equalizer. It was a physical game and as it wore on we got tired and were unable to take advantage of our speed to gain a second goal.”

The coach noted in the first half the team was able to put together some good passing combinations which ultimately led to its goal.

The Lady Cougars also dropped a 7-0 match to Eastside High School of Covington.

Even though the score was lopsided I think the game helped us,” Wilson said. “They are a quality GHSA AAAA team and it was good to see us compete with them in portions of the game. Ultimately, their depth showed and they were able to get three goals the last 20 minutes of the first half and keep it rolling in the second half.”

Despite the outcome, Piedmont’s coach said he likes being able to compete against quality teams such as Eastside.

“I think it’s great we could play each other,” Wilson said. “Several of the girls on both teams grew up going to school together, playing together or even going to either of the schools before now. I taught in Newton County for many years so it was nice to see several former students and compete with them. Win or lose, it’s always nice to compete with those in your own community and that’s what this game meant to me.

“It would be great if we could schedule more games against public schools in our area, I think it would generate great gates and serve as a point where communities can come together and celebrate all of our student-athletes on a common ground. Hopefully, we can continue this with Eastside in soccer and see more of it in other sports with other schools.”

The Lady Cougars earned an 8-1 win against Briarwood earlier this week. Goals were by Emma Kate Edmonds (off corner kick), Sydney Davis (20 yards), Alexis Dodson (assist from Young), Dodson (beat keeper 1-on-1), Edmonds and Mattie Johnston (rebound from Young and direct kick from 50 yards).

“It was nice to have a game like this after several very tough matches,” Wilson said. “I thought we came out and did what we needed to do. We had three goals in first ten minutes and did our best job of the year possessing the ball and looking to make tactically strong passes. I was extremely excited for Emma Kate Edmonds who doesn’t see as much playing time as see would like come in and play a lot for us and score two goals. Her confidence really seemed to grow as the game went on and she looked like a different player by the end of the game.”

The coach said Dodson scored two goals and played a great game at both forward and midfield.

“She passed great and worked well with Caitlyn,” he said. “Caitlyn had a great game in midfield and consistently set up scoring opportunities throughout the game with excellent crosses. In reality, we would have scored a lot more goals and ended the game early had their keeper not been as good as she was. She made many quality saves on shots that I thought were definite goals.

“We only played three on the backline all game and I thought our defenders did a great job. It’s tough to play with three back in high school buy Morgan Whitley, Cally Cook, Anne Marie Hildebrant and Neely Bradford all rotated throughout the game and did a great job.”

Varsity Boys

Piedmont’s varsity boys fell 10-0 to John Milledge last week.

“Our boys competed and played hard the whole game,” said Wilson. “JMA is a quality boys team, probably the best we’ve seen to date and we fought with them. We were just out-manned. I’m a firm believer that the scoreboard doesn’t indicate success and while a lot might not see it that way, I tell all my teams that if you can give your best effort the whole game that in the end you are successful and that what we teach the kids in the classroom and that’s how it needs to be on the field.”

Despite the final score, the coach said the Cougars played well defensively.

“I thought our defense fought hard the whole game,” Wilson said. “We just had some speed discrepancies we couldn’t overcome. We were led by Ian Boyd, Talon Anglin, Jackson Waddleton and Trent Coots. They hustled all game and it carried over to the team.”

The varsity soccer teams will face Westfield in Perry today, March 22 beginning at 5:30 p.m.