GIRLS' SOCCER: Spring Creek wins shootout

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on May 3, 2017 10:01 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- After overtime ended against James Kenan, Spring Creek head coach Jared Miller gathered his girls and asked who wanted to participate in penalty kicks.

Five girls immediately stepped forward with Tuesday's game on the line -- Alisson Patton, Jordan Lane, Mirna Santiago, Bianca Cuevas and Fernanda Martinez.

That chosen group went 5-for-5 on penalty kicks, giving Spring Creek a 5-3 advantage and an emotional victory over first-place James Kenan.

"I have full confidence in all of my players," Miller said. "Every player on the field, they're on the field because I think they can do it. They're there for a reason. They can do something, and that's why they're on the team."

With the victory, the Gators moved to within a half game of the Tigers. If Spring Creek defeats Neuse Charter and North Duplin in the next two days, it will clinch a share of the Carolina 1-A Conference title.

From the opening kick, the game appeared destined for a shootout. No team could generate offense -- until the final two minutes, that is.

In the 78th minute, James Kenan's Carlie Krimin set up for a free kick. Spring Creek's Martinez went to catch the ball, but it dropped out of her arms. The Tigers' Alejandra Sanchez was there to pick up the mess, and scored the first goal of the game.

The goal didn't deflate the Gators. If anything, it inflated them.

With 54 seconds left, Spring Creek drew a corner kick. Santiago slammed a ball directly to Lane's head, who directed the ball into the top right corner of the net.

Tie ball game.

"It seems like all season, if we ever get scored on, it's a wake-up call," Miller said. "...That's the kind of mentality we've had all season...It was refreshing to see that we actually got a set piece where we could take our chance, and we capitalized.

James Kenan made its first two penalty kicks, but missed its third. Cuevas converted her kick to put Spring Creek ahead 4-2. After the Tigers answered with a make, Martinez -- redeeming her earlier drop -- scored the game-winning kick.

It's the second time this season the Gators have won a shootout.

Before the game against Rosewood last Thursday, Miller said he wanted the team to treat the matchup as if it were the last of the season. That resulted in a victory.

He preached the same message before Tuesday's game, and the first-year head coach said it will continue throughout the week.

"(Wednesday) is the same mentality," Miller said. "Nothing changes. If we end up dropping a game between (Wednesday) and Friday, this game wasn't for much. We control our destiny, which any team in any sport, would love to have that luxury."