1A PREP GIRLS SOCCER: Spring Creek blanks Roxboro Community

By Justin Hayes
Published in Sports on May 17, 2017 9:59 AM

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SEVEN SPRINGS -- What curse?

Such is now the case for the Spring Creek varsity girls' soccer program, who on Tuesday survived stifling temperatures and years of playoff heartbreak to reach the fourth round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1-A state playoffs with an academic, 3-nil conquest of high-powered Roxboro Community at "The Swamp."

And the clinic, an 80-minute, unadorned expression of game planning and boundless energy, was never in doubt.

SC's Madison Sullivan started the affair in proper form, taking control of a crisp touch from junior forward Jordan Lane near the penalty box and slipping a deft winner past Bulldogs' keeper Carley Grinstead just seven minutes into the match.

With that, the run-out was on.

Six minutes later, Mirna Santiago emerged from a population-control mass in front of SC's goal to convert a needled, seeing-eye corner kick by Sullivan -- the final note of an opening number that both scrambled and stunned Roxboro, which appeared listless and out of sorts through the final whistle.

"We wanted possession -- it saves legs," first-year head coach Jared Miller said of the effort. "Especially in this heat... we were able to put two up and make them chase. It was good all around."

Indeed so.

The lady Gators gave no quarter throughout, winning in every conceivable measure and holding the volume-striking Bulldogs -- who entered the contest having fired 376 shots on goal this spring -- to zero on the afternoon.

They won the midfield stripe, clogging attacks prior to formation.

They won the touchline, courtesy of McKinley Edmonson's relentless, never-say-die work rate.

They also won in front of goal, where a dedicated back line thwarted anything played over the top or out of discombobulation.

"Our back five was most important," Miller said. "Their (Roxboro) strikers are dangerous, but we were able to keep them at bay.... I love having a win, but it's even sweeter having a shutout."

Fittingly, it was Edmonson who capped matters in the 74th minute, winning control of a 50/50 ball near the 18-yard box and connecting on SC's 11th on-goal attempt to officially secure its travel fare to the fourth round.

Done and done.

Post-match, Spring Creek (16-5-1 overall) gathered for an elaborate team huddle and the look-this-way flash of smart-phone cameras. Proud parents herded the bench area, and Miller, who looked every bit the survivor of a heavyweight title bout, succinctly offered his thoughts on the next round.

"We just need a start time and a pitch -- that's all we need," he said.