GIRLS' SOCCER: Willman leads charge on senior day

By Ben Coley
Published in Sports on April 27, 2017 10:10 AM

• Print
• Email

bcoley@newsargus.com

Look across Wayne Country Day's soccer field and you won't find many upperclassmen.

It's a team of the future with several young players already making their mark.

But Wednesday's game was senior day, and Ally Willman reminded everyone just how much she's meant to the WCDS program. The senior scored two goals and recorded two assists in the Chargers' 7-0 rout of Christ Covenant.

Willman and Martie Rose -- the only other senior -- were both honored in a halftime ceremony.

"I thought (Willman) was excellent," said WCDS head coach Steve Ellis. "She covers pretty much every blade of grass every game. No matter if it's a position rotation, she's still covering."

Sophomore Langley Barnes -- returning from injury -- opened the scoring with a goal in the 10th minute. The next four scores involved Willman.

Her first opportunity came in the 29th minute. After a few deflections, the ball rolled to Willman, who stood about 16 yards from the net. She found a space to the right of the goalkeeper for her first goal.

Willman then switched her role to distributor. The senior sent a pass across the front of the goal and found Hannah McKeithan's foot in the 37th minute. Six minutes later, she sent a pass ahead to Barnes who finished near the edge of the 18-yard box.

In the 50th minute, Willman capped her day by twisting, kicking and sending a rainbow shot into the right corner of the net for her second goal.

"(Willman) leads by example -- and that's both on and off the field," Ellis said. "She was great. She was unlucky with that one that hit the crossbar for (possibly) her third goal."

Barnes scored the final two goals in the 56th and 74th minute.

The triumph over Christ Covenant was the Chargers' first victory since April 5th. WCDS tied Neuse Christian and lost back-to-back games to Kerr-Vance and Oakwood prior to Wednesday.

As for the senior duo, Ellis said he will remember Willman and Rose by how they helped build the girls' soccer program.

Several girls were new to the team this year. Ellis believes that's a testament to the work ethic of this year's small, but influential senior class.

"I think the aspect of they have fought and learned and achieved the goals they've set out," Ellis said. "It encourages the other girls who are maybe not sure about playing to come out and try it. They're positive and good to be around...(Willman) and Martie (Rose)."