Murphy – What a difference four weeks can make.
When the Murphy girls soccer team opened its season at Smoky Mountain on March 10, it had a team almost completely brand new to the game – and it showed. The Mustangs dominated, posting a 6-1 win.
Four weeks later in Murphy, the Lady Bulldogs were able to flip the result. Emonie Watson scored in the sixth minute, and that was enough as Murphy came away with a 1-0 win.
“I watched 15 minutes of film from the first time we played them,” head coach Little Holloway said. “And I told them you look like a completely different team.”
In the first matchup, most of the Lady Bulldogs were still just trying to learn the rules of the game and basic fundamentals. Junior Cat Barreiro, one of the few players on the team with soccer experience coming into the season, said that allowed the Mustangs to have their way on offense.
In this game, Murphy’s (4-4 overall) defense held up better. Smoky Mountain (6-6-2) still had their runs, though the Lady Bulldogs were aggressive and tried to be first to the ball if possible, which helped snuff out potential counter attacks. Goalie Calista Rumfelt also did a good job of being aggressive and going out to get the ball when needed.
“It just really has showed us that all the work has really paid off,” Barreiro said. “It just pushes us to keep working harder, and that just because a team beats us doesn’t mean they’re better than us. We just have to work harder to be able to get there.”
Offensively, Murphy capitalized on some initial attacks to get a goal in the opening minutes. Lailee Holloway’s shot was blocked in the sixth minute, and Watson was there on the rebound to put it in the back of the net.
“I’ve been barking at them when the ball’s crossed just going toward it,” Holloway said. “And (Emonie) totally did what she was told to do.”
At times throughout the rest of the game, it looked like Smoky Mountain was finally going to get a golden opportunity and convert, but the Lady Bulldogs didn’t let that happen. Barreiro said the Mustangs put the same amount of pressure on Murphy as they did in the first matchup, only Murphy was better prepared. When the defense didn’t run down an opposing player, the Lady Bulldogs were able to get a touch in the midfield.
“They’re learning how when the ball comes to them to receive it and trap it,” coach Little Holloway said. “And then look up and then see what to do with it, instead of just kicking it as hard as they can, is a huge difference.”
Smoky Mountain had its best chances to tie the game early in the second half. In the 48th minute, Rumfelt came out to corral a free kick and collided with a Mustang player, allowing Hadley Huffman to put the ball in the back of the net, but a foul was called and the goal didn’t count. Minutes later, Huffman had a dangerous cross that couldn’t connect with a teammate.
The Lady Bulldogs had some chances in the middle portions of the second half before the Mustangs made one last push. Jada Cortes had shots from outside the box in the 71st and 74th minute, and both were saved by Rumfelt.
Murphy has five more games after spring break, all against teams they played earlier in the season. Holloway was hoping her team would be better the second time around as her players got more experience. That was the case against Smoky Mountain.
“This next part of the season is round two for us,” Holloway said. “I told them we’re a whole new team playing.”