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  • Hitting the Walls... Princeton’s Shaylah Walls (11) chases after the ball during a recent game with Greenbrier East. Walls scored the Tigerettes’ lone goal on Tuesday in a 3-1 Region III loss to Nitro at Greenbrier East High School. File photo

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October 26, 2011

Stopped from state

Two second half goals send Nitro past Princeton

By JONATHAN GREENE Bluefield Daily Telegraph

FAIRLEA — Both Nitro and Princeton Senior high schools made the long trip over to Greenbrier East High School on Tuesday night.

Yet for Nitro, it will be an enjoyable trip home.

The Lady Wildcats defeated Princeton, 3-1, for the Class AAA Region 3 girls' soccer title and earned a berth in the WVSSAC state championships in Beckley.

“We came out a little slow in the first half,” Nitro head coach Kim Aurelio said. “They weren't hustling, we were standing back and waiting. You could tell we had been on a bus for a little over two hours.

“We didn't talk to them very lightly at halftime and they came out and they hustled their tails. They wanted this. My seniors were my freshmen the year we won states so they were gunning for this.”

Emily Ross connected on two goals while Laine Roberts added the other for Nitro (14-7-1). Shaylah Walls scored Princeton's only goal which tied the game in the first half.

“I thought it was great game,” Princeton head coach Michelle Dye said. “Both teams played really hard. It was strong, competitive game.

“Both teams fought hard. Nitro was a good team and it showed.”

Nitro and Princeton both had chances early, but neither could get a good shot at the net.

Walls set up Amanda Barrett right in the front of net, but Barrett's attempt went wide for the Tigerettes. Nitro's Allison Scarbo had a golden opportunity, yet her shot went off the post and took a Princeton bounce away from the net.

The Wildcats would continue to attack before breaking through 12 minutes into the game when Roberts found Ross for the game's first goal.

“The first goal is always good to have,” Aurelio said. “You never know how the other team is going to react. They could get down or came back 10 times hard. You always want to be the first one to score.”

After the goal, Dye moved two attackers back to defense in Jessica Inman and Hannah Preservati. The move kept Nitro from getting any good chances the rest of the first half and allowed Princeton to mount an offensive attack.

“Tori (Billips) had a back injury which has been aggravating her for all season and she's real bruised,” Dye said. “She didn't have the speed to hang back there with them. Laine Roberts had been one of their leading goal scorers all season and Hannah is the only we have that can keep up with her speed.

“We had to think defense, but at the same time, we had our strongest attackers up still.”

The move paid off when Walls rocketed a shot to the back of the net to tie the game midway through the first half.

It would be a defensive battle the rest of the first half as neither team could get a good look.

The second half started out much the same until Roberts sent a perfect shot from just outside the box over the outstretched arms of Princeton goalkeeper Meredith Putorek with 26 minutes left in the contest.

The Wildcats would add on minutes later when the Tigerettes couldn't clear the ball from their end and Ross collected her second goal of the night.

“They played and hustled,” Aurelio said. “They did their passing and worked as a team. They worked on their crosses.

“We were in the right place at the right time. They we were doing what they were taught to do.”

The Tigerettes kept battling and were able to get a few chances to cut into the lead, but they could not capitalize on those opportunities as Nitro held on for the win.

“It's a great team,” Dye said. “It's like they've done all season. They played their best and they fought until the end.

“They're a young team. Hopefully, next year this will be the fire to get them back.”

The loss ends the Tigerettes’ run just short of reaching the state tournament, but Princeton (14-5) only loses two seniors — Whitney White and Carly Powell — while they return several of their key contributors and goal scorers.

“I told them not to dwell on the loss here, but remember how far we made it this season,” Dye said. “That's the goal for next year, to make it through this regional final.”

—Contact Jonathan Greene

at jgreene@bdtonline.com

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