Piedmont Soccer Sweeps Westfield

The trip to Perry to battle the Westfield School proved to be a successful one for the Piedmont Academy varsity soccer teams last week.

The Lady Cougars earned a 3-1 win while the varsity boys took an exciting 2-1 victory.

“I thought the girls played one of their best games of the year,” said coach Michael Wilson. “We played a very physical team and responded by giving them some of their own play while still playing our game and using our skill and speed.”

The coach praised the play of Emily Mills, Sydney Davis and Hannah Tyler up front.

“Even though they didn’t score they continued to use their speed to create chances and keep Westfield back on their heels throughout the game,” Wilson said.

The host Lady Hornets scored the first goal at the 30:00 mark of the first half.

“Giving up the first goal sometimes affects players approach but for some reason we were mentally focused all game,” Wilson said. “Once Westfield scored we responded quickly. Probably the worst thing a team can do is give us a free kick anywhere within 50 yards of their goal. Westfield got called for a handle about 20 yards from goal and Caitlyn (Young) did what she does better than anyone in GISA. She scored from long distance on a free kick. Placed it perfectly over the keeper’s hands.”

Piedmont’s second goal came on a corner kick.

Wilson said Alexis Dodson did a great job of getting her foot on the soccer ball and putting it in the net.

“She has really turned her game up in all sports this year and soccer is the latest to benefit,” he said.

The final goal was another long distance shot as Adrianna Chapko hit a perfect ball from 25 yards and the keeper never had a chance, her coach said.

“She’s a great addition to the team and for an eighth grader to play center midfield as well as she does at varsity is a great asset,” Wilson said. “In the second half, Westfield got very aggressive on both sides of the field and we did a great job keeping our composure and holding them out of the goal. It was a good region win.”

The Piedmont boys went to overtime to earn a region win.

“It was one of the best wins I’ve been a part of in a long time,” Wilson said. “To break a nearly two season winless drought is awesome. They played hard and never gave up. They believed this was a game they could win and they went out and took it. Westfield took the lead with about 25 minutes left in the game and the boys really turned up their energy and offensive attack. We put a lot of pressure on them, especially the last 10 minutes of the game and were finally able to equalize the game.

The coach said Talon Anglin usually plays offense but he has a knack for being in the right place so he was moved up late and was in perfect position to take Sam Younker’s cross and directed it to the back of the net off his chest.

Overtime is two five minute periods with the first one being played out and the second being sudden death with penalty kicks to follow if necessary.

“We took the advantage quickly in overtime and the goal scored by Tanner Coppock was as good as any soccer goal I’ve seen this year,” Wilson said.

“He beat two defenders and sent a shot from outside the box to the top right corner. It was text book and kind of surprised him as much as anyone.”

The coach was pleased to see the hard work of the varsity boys pay off with a victory.