Ried punches in career-high 4 goals, Gators take out Hawks

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 16, 2015 11:27 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- Keeper Kaitlyn Sullivan grabbed the ball just before it hit the crossbar and waited for her Spring Creek teammates to push forward out of the 18-yard box.

Sullivan delivered a short ball to Madison Harkay, who cleared it over the top of Kestrel Height's defense.

Left unmarked, Rheanna Ried tracked down the loose ball and found herself in a one-on-one situation with Hawks goalie Sonia Peraza Magana.

No problem.

Ried easily tucked away her second goal of the game.

"That was very big," Harkay said of the back-breaking strike that occurred just nine minutes into the second half. "That made us have confidence and feel like we could score more."

The Gators did.

Ried punched in a career-high four goals and Spring Creek claimed the program's first-ever playoff victory -- a 5-1, second-round triumph over Kestrel Heights in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A girls' soccer tournament.

Harkay notched one goal and two assists on the day.

"I'm the left and she's (Madison) the right (on offense), so we just send passes to each other," Ried said. "We work hard in practice as a whole team on that."

Jordan Lane contributed one assist for the Gators, who claimed co-ownership of the program's first-ever Carolina Conference crown one week ago. They return home Tuesday to face either Granville Central or Lejeune.

Spring Creek (15-2-0 overall) controlled possession from the opening whistle and worked its "triangle" scheme to near perfection. Ried, at times, ripped shots on goal that either Magana (nine saves) stopped or sailed wide of the post.

Harkay made good runs down the side which created more space in the Hawks' defense. Ried finally punched in her first goal, off Lane's assist, in the 18th minute.

"We just try to make sure we stay in the triangle to keep two options in case one gets closed and the other one is open for the pass," Harkay said. "We try to keep it moving forward instead of backward. (Today) I think we put our heart and soul into it.

"I think we really wanted the win."

Ried echoed her teammate.

"I think we played awesome," she said.

The Hawks (10-10-0) pulled to within 2-1 on Dina Avila's goal off of an assist from Kira Hollinghurst. Gators head coach Carlos Borda assigned Amber Buchan to Hollinghurst, while Helen Santizo played superb defense against Avila.

Neither Avila nor Hollinghurst threatened again.

Ried scored her final two goals within 2:43 of each other midway through the second half. Harkay logged the assist on the second goal.

Sullivan finished with 11 saves for SC.

"The team worked (together), we went hard and I'm excited," Ried said.