Solis shines again for Corinth Holders in soccer win over SSS

The Smithfield-Selma girls soccer team played an almost perfect first half of soccer and trailed Two Rivers Conference leader Corinth Holders by just one goal midway through the second half, but it wasn’t enough to upend the Pirates.

Carolina Solis scored four goals on the night for the hosts, three coming in the second half, as Corinth Holders (12-2-1, 5-0) pulled away for a 5-1 victory.

Smithfield-Selma (6-7, 2-2) held the Pirates to just one goal in the opening half and also put together some dangerous counterattacks that came close to getting the Spartans on the board early. However, the Smithfield-Selma defense couldn’t hold off the vaunted Corinth Holders attack in the second half as the Pirates did a better job stringing together quick passes and moving the ball.

“We just calmed down and started playing our game,” said Corinth Holders coach Alison Vetterl. “When we play the way that we can, we’re pretty tough to beat. When we just kind of go through the motions for whatever reason, it’s going to be a struggle.

“We’ve got the target on our back right now and you want to defend what you’ve got.”

Turning Point

Smithfield-Selma carried out its pre-game strategy to perfection in the first half as the Spartans were stout on defense and relied on getting the ball to Natalie Sabiston in the midfield to launch counterattacks.

A defensive giveaway led to Corinth Holders taking the 1-0 lead but in the half’s final seconds, it looked as though the Spartans would tie the game and take some momentum with them to the second half.

Kara Harrison and Sabiston combined to move the ball up the field and set up Megan Benjamin for a clear shot on goal inside the penalty box. Benjamin’s shot was hit squarely but Corinth Holders goalie Rachel Witkin managed to make a fingertip save and the ball hit off of the crossbar just before the halftime buzzer.

Solis tallied her second goal of the game less than five minutes into the second half and Smithfield-Selma was forced to play from behind the rest of the way.

Three to Watch

Carolina Solis, Corinth Holders: The sophomore forward was at it again Thursday night doing what she does best: finding the back of the net. After her four-goal performance, Solis leads the Pirates with 33 goals on the season.

Rylee Bays, Corinth Holders: Bays was essential to the Pirates’ attack as her playmaking created or led to many of the scoring chances for Corinth Holders. The freshman midfielder set up the first goal after stealing the ball deep in Smithfield-Selma’s defensive third and then assisted on Solis’ second goal.

Caroline Carter, Smithfield-Selma: The Spartans’ goalkeeper figured to be busy entering the game against the high-scoring Pirates and, despite conceding five goals, turned in a fine performance keeping her team in the game for as long as she could. Carter totaled 12 saves, including a handful from point-blank range inside of the six-yard box.

They Said It

“They did what I asked them to do in the first half,” said Smithfield-Selma coach Stacy Holland. “We played great defense all night so I can’t complain about how we played at all. If you look at the score, that’s not the kind of game it was.”

Highlight Reel

The third goal from Solis was a great individual effort and a thing of beauty. She dispossessed a Spartan defender of the ball 25 yards from goal on the right wing. As she attempted to find room in the middle of the field, she was forced laterally across the face of the goal.

With the standout forward seemingly strung out towards the left wing, she pivoted and torqued herself to shoot back against the grain to the right post with her left foot and beat Carter with a firm strike for a 4-1 lead in the 61st minute.

Solis credits a lot of the Pirates’ offensive success to the forwards’ willingness and ability to pressure opposing defenders as they try to play the ball out of the back.

“When we pressure, they panic,” Solis said. “When we can get through, that leads to us scoring.”

As far as goal-scoring celebrations go, Solis doesn’t get too extravagant and keeps it simple.

“I don’t celebrate like that ... just high fives and hugs.”

With 51 goals scored already in her brief high school career and her current form, the high fives and hugs don’t figure to end anytime soon.

By the Numbers

1: Touches needed on Lucila Guzman’s second half goal for Smithfield-Selma. The junior netted her third goal of the season with a half volley off of a superb cross from Kara Harrison.

2: Assists dished out by the Pirates’ Summer Mitchell.

5: Goals on the season now for Rosemarie Fitzpatrick after her second half goal gave the Pirates a 3-1 lead.

7: Games this season that Solis has tallied at least a hat trick.

15: Shots taken by Corinth Holders inside the Spartans’ 18-yard box in the second half alone.

This story was originally published April 15, 2016 at 4:49 PM with the headline "Solis shines again for Corinth Holders in soccer win over SSS."