Toone's goal lifts Clarke County girls past James Wood

By JERRY HOLSWORTH | The Winchester Star

Mar 14, 2018

WINCHESTER — It was hardly spring conditions when the Clarke County and James Wood girls’ soccer teams squared off in their season-openers Tuesday. With temperatures below freezing, the wind gusting, and icy rain and snow falling the contest was a test of will against each other and the climate.

The Eagles, thanks to the offensive prowess of Danielle Toone nipped the Colonels 2-1 in a game that featured a spirited struggle for midfield and solid defense in the penalty area by both teams.

“The weather was really bad and we had to overcome that,” Eagles goalkeeper Bristen Broy said. “Once we did that I thought we played really well. When it started snowing it hit me in the face and I couldn’t see where the ball was going.”

“It was really hard to overcome the weather conditions, but we have a great team and they’re always going to give their all,” Toone added. “That made my job a lot easier.”

Early in the game Toone’s brilliant play at right wing gave Clarke County a distinct advantage and the Eagles capitalized almost immediately after the opening whistle.

Toone raced down the right sideline. Outrunning the Colonel defense, the Eagles senior sent a hard shot at the James Wood goal from 12 yards out. Colonels goalkeeper Sadie Kerns was in perfect position and deflected the shot.

Her deflection sent the ricochet straight to the foot of Maeve Lyman who shot the ball past Kerns for the first goal of the game just three minutes into the first half.

“After I took my shot the ball just came back perfectly to Maeve,” Toone said.

Clarke County spent most of the first 20 minutes in James Wood’s end of the field peppering the Colonels goal.

But with 15 minutes left in the first half, James Wood’s offense began to show new life. After being outshot 4-1 over the first 25 minutes, the Colonels were able to square the shots on goal at five each by halftime. A couple of shots by center forward Katelyn Mounts nearly tied the score, but Broy was able to make two clutch saves to preserve Clarke County’s lead.

The momentum change carried into the second and it took the Colonels just two minutes to get the equalizer. Mounts took a cross from Katie Padgett and hammered it past Broy to tie the score at 1-1.

“I got a great cross from Katie and was able to get it into the goal,” Mounts said. “I think that we lost the game in the first half. If we had played in the first half the way we played in the second half we could have won the game. We just need to come out strong as the beginning of the game.”

As the temperatures continued to drop, the game settled into a spirited battle with neither side gaining an advantage. But with 21 minutes left, Toone again turned on her considerable skills and broke the tie.

Weaving through four Colonels defenders, the Eagle senior drove the ball deep into James Wood’s penalty area then smashed it past Kerns from five yards out for the eventual game-winner.

James Wood pressed the remainder of the match, but could not get the equalizer. Broy and her teammates fought off every attempt by the Colonels to tie the game.

“It was a great win but James Wood is always tough,” Eagles coach Louis Taylor said. “We were lucky to get out of here with a win. I was very proud of the girls and the way they played through the weather conditions.”

James Wood coach Jim Carden was complimentary of the Eagles.

“It’s early in the season and its going to take a while for the girls to get used to playing with each other,” Carden said. “Clarke County played an outstanding game. They pass the ball so well and we were on our heels most of the game. We had our opportunities. We just didn’t take advantage of them. It was really Clarke County’s play though. They deserve all of the credit for this win.”

“It was rough out there but I think that we could have played a lot better,” added Kerns. “The snow got in my eyes but it was actually fun to play in conditions like that. It would have been a lot more fun if we had won though.”