As the final minutes ticked off the clock, it became apparent that the Madison County girls’ soccer team was going to its first ever state tournament. Despite the clarity of the situation, senior goalkeeper Tori Puryear wasn’t sure how to react.
“I was actually shocked,” said Puryear, who recorded her 13th shutout of the season in the 3-0 win. “By the end of the game I didn’t know how to express how happy I was. I was so tired first of all. Everyone gave it their all and got really beat up … I’m just so glad we came out on top—words can’t describe it.”
The Mountaineers (17-2-2) defeated Bull Run district rival Clarke County (13-6) Wednesday afternoon in the Region B semifinals for the third time in four matchups this year to advance to the state tournament and a region final against another Bull Run District opponent, George Mason.
“We played hard, I am proud of our girls, I can’t ask for anymore out of them,” said Clarke coach Terry Ellis. “This district is very tough and I think anyone who comes out of this district has a good chance to win states this year.”
Though Clarke controlled possession early, it was Madison that netted the first goal of the match at the 32:10 mark of the first half when senior midfielder Rachel Strahan assisted senior forward Ivy Jacobs in front of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
“The games that we lost to Clarke at Clarke and to George Mason at Mason, each time the other team scored within the first five minutes and that was a real deflation,” said Madison coach Danny Crigler. “So we talked long and hard about getting that first goal and setting the tone of the game.”
Madison nearly extended its lead to 3-0 on identical misses just to the right of the goal in the closing minutes of the period, the first by sophomore midfielder Lindsey Wheeler and the second by Jacobs. Though they were attacking on the offensive end, the Mountaineers appeared a little bit lackadaisical on the defensive end as the Eagles penetrated deep into Madison territory on multiple occasions during the first half.
“I think the nerves and the heat was getting to us at first and we weren’t playing our game,” Puryear said. “But definitely by the middle of the first half we settled in.”
The Madison roster features nine seniors who were all very determined to get to states, a factor that helped the squad dig deep and pull through for the victory.
“We’ve got a group of seniors that has come a long way and it was just pure determination that pulled them through today,” Crigler said.
In the second half, Madison stepped up its offensive game. At the 36:10 mark, Wheeler found junior forward Samantha Cubbage just to the right of the goal for a 2-0 lead. Strahan put the final touches on the victory with a goal with 12:15 left in the match.
“Samantha is a warrior up front,” Crigler said. “She will run through a stone wall to get to that goal with that ball.”
Clarke was unable to manufacture the same number of offensive opportunities that they did in the first half as Madison picked up its defensive intensity.
The Mountaineers have now earned the state berth they were desperately yearning for, but they aren’t relaxing. If Madison can beat George Mason for the first time this year Friday — Madison tied the Mustangs at home, lost at Mason, then lost on penalty kicks after 100 minutes of soccer in the district tournament final — that would give the Mountaineersa home game in the state playoffs. Plus, they would win some hardware after missing out in the district tournament.
“At the beginning of the year we had the goal of getting something on the banner, get a number up, it’s looking pretty lonely—I think there’s one district championship up there,” Puryear said. “We know how they play. We know their best players…Let everybody rest up first of all but we’ll be ready for them because we know them.”
