Nash Central girls soccer wins first playoff game, upends Union Pines

Nash Central could have been happy just to reach the state girls’ soccer playoffs, since before this season the Bulldogs had never had a taste of the postseason.

But on Wednesday night they took another step.

Junior Anna Thompson stood tall in goal, racking up 21 saves in a 2-1 win over Union Pines in the first round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3A playoffs on Wednesday night at Lee County’s Paul Gay Stadium.

Union Pines’ home game was moved to Lee County because the Vikings’ regular field in Cameron is undergoing renovations.

No. 17 seed Central (14-8), which will move to 2A next season. will visit top-seeded Terry Sanford in a second-round contest in Fayetteville.

No. 16 seed Union Pines, which had advanced to the second round last season before losing at Chapel Hill, finished 11-6-1.

The Bulldogs led 1-0 at halftime, courtesy of Sarah Radjail’s goal from just outside the box in the 15th minute with Kaley Sharpe on the assist.

And the score went to 2-0 in the 63rd minute on a free kick from Mahala Hanke from about 20 yards out on the right side.

Alisha Leitshuh halved the lead seven minutes later from about seven yards out, following Emma Saunders’ corner kick from the left side.

But Thompson withstood a late barrage as the Bulldogs escaped with the win.

Freshman Jenna Waldschmidt had six saves for Union Pines.

NASH CENTRAL

With the Bulldogs getting outshot 21-5 in their first-round playoff game against Union Pines, it might be fair to say goalie Anna Thompson stole a victory.

But she has been doing that for the Bulldogs all season. And the 5-foot-11 three-sport athlete, who is also the center on the basketball team and kicks for the football club, will continue it at the Division I college level as she committed to Charleston Southern before the start of her junior year.

UNION PINES

The Vikings had a challenge in getting back to the state playoffs after losing nine seniors from last year’s squad.

But their tiny senior leader Sierra Gonzalez helped will her team to another successful season.

The 4-11 striker, who will play at Chowan in the fall, led her team with 16 goals.

“I was really happy with the way our team was able to bond,” said Gonzalez, one of just three seniors on the squad. “I’ve been playing since I was four years old, and I like this team. We were really young this year, but the team has a lot of talent and potential. We just ran into a great goalie in our last game.”

“Our team continued to fight all the way through,” Union Pines’ third-year coach James Horvath said. “We had plenty of possession and plenty of chances against Nash Central. But one mistake made the difference. You have to put it in the back of the net and they did it more than we did.

“Sierra has really showed good leadership and distributed the ball well. She played with a more experienced core last year, and it was a challenge for her. And she did a great job.”

Freshman Alysha Leitshuh scored the Vikings’ final goal of the season.

“We kept fighting until the end,” Leitshuh said. “We’re going to miss Sierra a lot. She taught us a lot about soccer, and she always led our team prayers before every game. We’re going to miss her a lot.”

This story was originally published May 11, 2017 at 12:51 AM with the headline "Nash Central girls soccer wins first playoff game, upends Union Pines."