Tanner, Best provide Chargers' offensive punch

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 11, 2013 11:15 PM

• Print
• Email

One opponent down.

The next one will be tougher.

Margaret Tanner and Sarah Best supplied the offense during Wayne Country Day's opening-round, 4-0 conquest of United Faith Christian in the N.C. Independent Schools Athletic Association Class 1-A girls' soccer playoffs on Friday afternoon.

The seventh-seeded Chargers (11-4-0 overall) continue play Tuesday at No. 2-ranked Hickory Christian Academy.

"We didn't allow them many offensive opportunities, they played a more defensive setup anyways," WCDS head coach Paul Casey said. "We didn't have to contend with a lot of offense and we kept them back on their heels.

"We had a lot of chances in the first (half) that we missed."

Wayne Country Day owned a decisive 25-3 edge in shots, including a 13-0 advantage in the opening half. UFCA sophomore keeper Abbey Feather logged seven saves during that stretch, and also watched a few shots either bounce wide of the posts or sail over the crossbar.

The Chargers' first two goals came out of the flow of play.

Tanner collected the eventual game-winning goal in the 15th minute and Best scored in the 23rd to put Wayne Country Day up 2-0 at intermission.

Best delivered her second goal in the 46th minute and Tanner capped the scoring in the 55th.

"Sarah just wasn't on, but she played well I thought," Casey said. "She gave herself and other people chances (to score)."

Keeper Bailee Creger stopped all three UFCA shots in the second half and recorded the team's fifth shutout in its last seven outings. WCDS has eight shutouts overall this season.

Casey lauded his defense, which contended with unusual adjustments in the second half. Freshman defensive back Margaux Pope suffered an injury and spent the remainder of the game on the bench.

"That's why we used a different setup toward the end of the game, looking to see how we play without her," Casey said. "At least they could see and get a little familiar with it. We have one practice Monday before we play Hickory Christian.

"We hear they're real strong."

The Chargers won a playoff-opening match for the sixth consecutive year.