The PVHS Girls’ Soccer teams had a strong showing on Monday, September 23, as both JV and Varsity teams delivered impressive performances in their matches against Mater East. The Junior Varsity team led the charge, securing a commanding 8-2 victory, while Varsity followed suit with a solid 6-2 win.
The JV team came out with intensity, scoring an impressive eight goals, with seven different players finding the back of the net. Justess Maxwell stood out, scoring twice, while Amaite, Jane, Biannet, Stefani, and Melanie Carson also contributed goals. Melanie Carson’s strike came from a perfectly placed penalty kick into the top left corner after the Trojans were fouled in the box.
Defensively, goalies Jazmyn Herrera and Julie Briggs split time in goal, each allowing just one goal, while the defense successfully stifled Mater East’s efforts. Head Coach Amy Carlson was pleased with their overall performance, stating, “The defense did a great job defending our half of the field, and the girls had a great overall game.”
The Varsity team set the tone early, with Sydney Crotty scoring two goals and Ryleigh Denton adding another within the first minutes of the match. However, Mater East responded with two goals of their own, including one from a penalty kick following an unavoidable handball in the box.
Despite this brief setback, the Trojans quickly regained their momentum, adding two more goals before halftime. Coach Carlson noted, “The two opponent’s goals slowed the girls’ momentum down for a few minutes, but they got focused and came back strong.” In the second half, PVHS faced a few moments of struggle as they overworked themselves but regained composure, scoring one final goal halfway through the half to secure the 6-2 victory.
Carlson praised her team’s resilience, stating, “Overall, the girls did very well. They still need to gain confidence in themselves and each other, but they get along really well and do a great job picking each other up.” She added that when the team plays with simplicity and confidence, “they are so fun to watch.”
Both the JV and Varsity teams continue to show growth, with an emphasis on learning from each match, even in victory. “With both teams, we always focus on the positives of each game and discuss the takeaways to learn from,” Carlson explained. “Even with a win, we can always improve on something, and the girls are great about wanting to continually grow and learn in order to become better.”
With a strong performance from both teams, PVHS Girls’ Soccer is poised to continue building on their success as the season progresses.
*A special thank you to Amber Crotty for the photos.
