Chargers blow past Knights on soccer pitch

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on April 17, 2016 1:47 AM

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Waste not, want not.

Wayne Country Day illustrated that precept Friday afternoon, rolling to a 6-0 win over Coastal Plains Independent 1-A/2-A Conference archrival Greenfield. The victory -- a scary-fast, don't-look-away clinic, moved the Chargers to 5-6-0 overall this season.

Freshman Langley Barnes gathered a corner kick by Ally Willman in the first minute, then fired past the gloves of Greenfield keeper Sumer Hasan for a 1-0 advantage.

In a flash, the Chargers' pace was set.

Gianna Democko joined the affair in the 18th minute, scoring the first of two goals on the afternoon. The senior's effort, in addition to another score by Barnes, capped a suffocating 10-minute outburst and typified the Chargers' intent to compete at sustained maximum velocity.

WCDS led 3-0 at the half.

"We wanted that early goal," Chargers head coach Steve Ellis explained. "It made them have to change their plan a bit."

But the Knights, who competed with vigor throughout, continued to struggle against the Chargers' size and speed.

Freshman keeper Hasan faced nine on-goal attempts during the match's opening half. On the afternoon, she repelled 11 of 17 WCDS shots -- most of which were fired in short bursts from point-blank range.

Her effort was lauded by Knights' head coach Randol Mendoza.

"Sumer has been one of our pillars in the back," Mendoza said. "And considering the circumstances, she did great."

And the circumstances featured a concentrated dose of No. 20 -- Barnes. She dribbled once more through a populated Knights' shape in the 47th minute and drew contact in the penalty box. The skirmish resulted in a penalty kick that sailed opposite a diving Hasan, making the score 5-0.

It was part of a hat trick plus-one for the freshman, who was followed in the 59th minute by another blast from Democko -- the final salvo of the Chargers shutout win.

And while pleased with his team's play, Ellis did not consider the effort flawless.

"We lost our shape a little bit... kind of lost our way at midfield," Ellis said of the opening half. "But the second (half) was much better."

Wayne Country Day travels to face Coastal Plains 1-A foe Pope John Paul II next Tuesday. Greenfield (2-7-1) continues play next week at Kerr-Vance Academy.