Goldsboro claims first soccer win

By Andrew Stevens
Published in Sports on April 27, 2010 1:49 PM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- This was a win two years in the making and one that won't quickly be forgotten.

Goldsboro overcame an early deficit and defeated Carolina 1-A Conference foe Spring Creek 6-3 on Monday afternoon. The win was the Cougars' first in the two-year history of the girls' soccer program.

"I'm just excited," said Goldsboro head coach Gina Elmore. "Our girls have worked hard for two years now and it's just amazing."

Carolina Balleza gave the Gators an early lead when she scored on an assist from Lyliana Alvarez Flores.

Goldsboro (1-1-0, 1-1-0 CC) responded moments later as Holly Pittard beat Spring Creek keeper Stacie Salter to tie the game at 1-1.

Kelly Miller's goal in the 10th minute gave the Cougars a 2-1 lead. Less than two minutes later, the Gators failed to clear a ball inside their own 18-yard box, and Ana Harris gathered it up and beat Salter.

Pittard's high, tailing shot in the 20th minute sailed over Salter's head to cap Goldsboro's outburst.

"We kept our heads up and I felt like we actually played as a unified team today," said Elmore. "We went to the ball and we played the ball well. Our passes were great. This is exciting for all of them."

Spring Creek (0-4-0, 0-2-0) pulled within 4-2 in the 25th minute as Margarita Balleza's high kick took a bounce and got past Goldsboro keeper Hunter Houtzer. Balleza scored her second goal of the game in the 32nd minute on an assist from Grecia Aguirre, which cut the margin to 4-3.

Balleza received her second yellow card of the first half in the 39th minute for running into Houtzer for the second time. The second yellow card resulted in a red card, which forced Balleza to watch the remainder of the game from the sidelines.

"Carolina has the control and the speed to get the ball out front," said Gators head coach Linda Salter. "She's done it with every team we've played. It hurt us and I think our team feels that. Instead of fighting back they kind of get down."

Pittard added goals in the 64th and 75th minutes.

"Holly was huge today," said Elmore.

Goldsboro travels to Princeton on Wednesday. Spring Creek visits Rosewood.