1A PLAYOFFS: Gators survive scare from Bulldogs on soccer pitch

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on May 17, 2016 1:48 PM

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jhayes@newsargus.com

SEVEN SPRINGS -- The encore was wholly different.

Spring Creek High, just a day removed from a record-setting performance by senior Madison Harkay, worked in contradictory fashion to register a 5-1 victory over familiar foe Princeton in round two of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A soccer playoffs.

The match was suspended by lightning in the 63rd minute, and per Spring Creek athletic department officials, will not be resumed.

Attempting to recreate Wednesday's shock wave performance, the Gators scored just 18 seconds into the match on a goal by forward Jordan Lane. The blast produced cheers by the Gators' faithful and murmurs of another uneven triumph, but it was not to be.

Princeton (10-8-1 overall), led by the poise of Chelsea Hawley, was brilliant throughout a diligent, blue-collar first half. The Bulldogs played possession futbol, passing crisply and making Spring Creek run sideline to sideline on the second night of consecutive playoff matches.

Spring Creek struggled for position against Hawley and Co., losing balls at midfield and unable to produce clean run-outs for Harkay. When Princeton junior Maddie Adkins converted a Hawley corner kick in front of a crowded SC goal in the 27th minute, a singular notion was clear -- the Bulldogs would not be going quietly.

Tied 1-all at half, Princeton head coach Brett Koehmstedt was pleased.

"We wanted to possess and make them chase," he said, "especially (a focus) with them going into back to back games."

And Harkay, whose electric star-turn on Wednesday buzzed the state soccer community, was worse for the wear. The Barton College signee twisted her right ankle in a violent spill just before intermission, and spent the break being examined by Spring Creek medical staff.

The second stanza began as a replay of the first, with both teams trading deft passes under darkening skies. Until Bianca Cuevas' floodgate-opening goal in the 65th minute, the action was mired in a stalemate.

Assisted by Madison Sullivan, the freshman fired cleanly past Princeton keeper Hannah Horne. The laser-shot made the score 2-1 and breathed life into a weary bunch of Gators -- a welcome sight to coach Carlos Borda.

"I don't want them to be a second half team," said Borda, "but (in) the second, we played like we want to play. Once we scored, we had open space."

Enter Madison Sullivan.

The freshman was sensational in relief of the injured Harkay, scoring two goals just 22 seconds apart in the 62nd minute. She also tendered three assists -- bringing her two-day playoff total to a staggering seven.

Spring Creek 5, Princeton 1.

Minutes later, after another score by Cuevas, play was halted as lightning flashed and popped over the Spring Creek Track and Field Complex. As of this morning, no plans have been made to complete the affair.

Spring Creek, now 16-2-1 on the season, faces the winner of Rosewood-Manteo, scheduled to be played Saturday.