In the past, the Wildcats have dominated their conference with two back-to-back conference championships but they failed to advance in this season's playoff. The first goal of the match was scored by the Wildcats Rachel Thomas but the Bears slipped away with a 3-2 victory.
In a season full of promise, the West Johnston Lady Wildcats soccer team went into the playoffs with high expectations. However, on Tuesday, May 8 the Lady Wildcats were ousted in the first round of the NCHSAA playoffs as the New Bern Bears slipped away with a 3-2 victory.
The first goal of the match was scored by the Wildcats Rachel Thomas. But just before the half the Bears’ River Bondurant found the back of the net to even the score at one a piece.
Coming out of half time the Wildcats took the lead back when Thomas crossed the ball to find teammate Becky Meshaw who slid the ball just past the goalie’s outstretched arms.
With determined, physical play the Bears clawed their way back into the game when Sierra Bondurant found a hole in the Lady Wildcats defense to find teammate Brittany McLawhorn who notched the game at 2-2.
Just a minute and a half later the Bears found themselves in scoring position once again. As Emily Knortz lifted a corner kick, teammate Sierra Bondurant found a wide open Dakotah Allen who gave the Bears their first lead of the game.
As the final minutes ran off the clock the Wildcats gave their season one last shot. With just under two minutes left in the game Rachel Adams was given a free kick. Adams put the ball in play just inside the 18-yard box. As the ball came down Wildcat Alexis Mascaro sent a header to the goal in what looked to beat Bear’s goalie Morgan Young. However, Young tipped the ball to send it over the top of the goal as the Wildcats season quickly faded.
“We possessed the ball very well in the first half,” West Johnston coach Danielle Cloud said. “We took control early.” Despite the Wildcats play the Bears did what it takes to when a game. “They found our weaknesses and they capitalized – bottom line,” Cloud said of the Bears. “Mentally, I think we had a breakdown.”
Not only did the Wildcats lose the game but they are also losing eight seniors who have been a part of building a respectable soccer program at West Johnston.
For the past two seasons the Wildcats have dominated their conference with two back-to-back conference championships. That is pretty good for a team that has not been known to have good soccer.
“The school is not known for soccer,” Cloud said. “We have made a mark for the past two years stepping up, winning our conference two years in a row. That says something.”
As the team gathered together for the last time on a soccer field Cloud told the seniors “Take out the moments that you remember.”
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