Gators' Harkay bends it like Beckham against River Mill

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on May 12, 2016 1:48 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- It's the stuff of tall tales, really.

A story manipulated over time, twisted and emboldened. Told on holidays by grown folk in bad sweaters that are tied tightly to its author. An evolving, biased case of extended-family embellishment.

Except it's not.

Madison Harkay scored eight goals as Spring Creek trounced River Mill Academy, 11-2, in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A girls soccer playoffs Wednesday evening.

Harkay's effort is the third-best, single-game output in state history -- a feat accomplished by four other players -- according to the N.C. Association record books. She came up one goal shy of equaling the county benchmark held by Southern Wayne graduate Dixie Ramirez.

Call it mayhem on a meter.

Spring Creek (16-2-1 overall) entered the contest as the prohibitive favorite over River Mill, a team whose sole victory this season was a forfeit from Chatham Charter.

The Jaguars (1-19-0) hardly expected to provide much resistance.

But matches aren't reconciled on paper.

River Mill opened quickly, advancing its agenda through a porous Gator defensive shape and getting two goals in hasty order from junior striker Jenna Janicky. It was part of a 30-minute stanza that frustrated head coach Carlos Borda -- immensely.

"The girls didn't (have) good definition," Borda said, "There was a lack of communication... not playing how a team is supposed to."

But in each case -- and in precursory fashion to her second-half, record-attacking outburst -- Harkay responded. The senior scored in the 13th minute, assisted by Amber Buchan. A solo effort nine minutes later provided the Gators a 2-1 lead, but Janicky registered again on a penalty kick to tie the score.

Ultimately, it proved the final celebratory moment for River Mill.

Harkay finished the half in proper stride, scoring on a 29th-minute assist from Jordan Lane. Another blast, this one 10 minutes later, caromed off the left post and past the out-stretched gloves of River Mill keeper Kamryn Ingold.

The hat trick plus-one gave the hosts a 4-2 advantage at the break, and also foreshadowed Harkay's run for record books.

Following Borda's directive to play a complete second half, the Gators unleashed the full might of their capability -- specifically No. 10, in heavy doses.

Harkay scored four goals in death-knell succession in the 44th, 46th, 47th and 49th minutes. Assisted by three different teammates, the senior set a single-game school record and put to rest her coach's wish to play in comprehensive fashion.

"The point is... not to go home early," Borda insisted. "The point is to play a good game. She (Harkay) was awesome."

And to a degree, could have been even more.

Harkay played just 49 minutes and 50 seconds, and was subbed out with numerous scoring records hanging in the balance. The effort translates to a goal scored roughly every six minutes -- an absurd production rate that was given much real-time discussion on various social media and news reporting outlets.

Not that it mattered to Harkay, who seemed decidedly nonplused over the afternoon's proceedings.

"I didn't want this to be our last game," the senior remarked. "And I want us to go farther (in the playoffs) than we did last year."

Of today's now-confirmed second-round matchup with Carolina 1-A rival Princeton, Harkay was even more succinct.

"I'm excited to play them again," she said.

Eight goals.

A masterful, mercy-rule rendering.

Over time, her exploits will grow. They will be given local polish, shined up and retold. Some might even say the record-setting afternoon didn't happen -- it couldn't have.

But it did.