Heritage girls’ soccer speeds by Sanderson

Heritage and Sanderson girls’ soccer coaches talked up speed as a factor in both squads’ early-season successes.

Certainly prophetic.

A barrage of three goals in 81 seconds from Heritage’s fast lineup gave it the muscle to pull away for a 5-1 triumph over the No. 6 Spartans in Cap-8 Conference play Wednesday.

“It’s that killer instinct,” Heritage coach Scott Sloan said. “It’s being assertive and aggressive and knowing when the other team has their heads down and going after them. It’s a good mentality to have.”

Spartans head man Todd Worley said the Huskies (4-1-2, 1-0-1 Cap-8) simply took advantage of Sanderson at the right times.

“They got us in some bad lineups,” he said. “We had three players come out and they were playing out of their normal positions. We got all disorganized playing out of sorts.”

It was the Huskies’ second straight impressive showing against a team ranked in the News & Observer’s Top 10, following Monday’s 0-0 tie against No. 2 Leesville Road.

Heritage owned a 1-0 lead courtesy of sophomore Micaella Arteta’s goal in the 16th minute but was in a dogfight.

After subbing in five new players just a minute earlier, the Huskies went on the attack.

When a counter attack failed, Arteta stole the ball right back and blasted the ball into the back of the net with 30:58 on the clock.

The Spartans (4-2-2, 0-0-1) turned the ball right over, and Heritage drove deep into their opponent’s end. There, freshman Fain Buete’s show ricocheted off a defender right into the waiting boot of classmate Alcenia Purnell, who finished to make it 3-0 at the 31:51 mark.

The Huskies immediately gained possession. Arteta’s long chip into open space from midfield went right to Purnell, who made it 4-0 with 32:19 on the clock.

The mass substitutions were part of the Huskies’ game plan.

“It must make the other coach feel like he’s in a hockey game,” Sloan said to his team afterward. “You’ve got five in and five out, over and over.”

Kylie Quinn scored in the 42nd minute to make it 5-0.

Out of bounds

Alcenia is a member of the Triangle Tar Heels AAU basketball team, and makes it no secret that basketball is her sport.

“I’m out here for the fun of it,” she said smiling.

Sloan added: “She’s a throw-back athlete.”

Three to know

Brittany Kropp, Heritage: The defender was a vital piece of her team’s defensive ability to ward off most Sanderson charges. Had assist on team’s first goal.

Sara McInnemey, Heritage: The keeper had three saves in net, including a nice punchover and another stop seconds later on a corner in the 39th minute.

Katie Crawford, Sanderson: The sophomore had the assist on teammate Ana Sheridan’s goal in the 51st minute. Her tenacity and high intensity in the midfield helped keep the Spartans’ offense moving forward despite the big deficit.

This story was originally published March 16, 2016 at 10:14 PM with the headline "Heritage girls’ soccer speeds by Sanderson."