The Fort Mill’s girls’ soccer team will need to be ‘super focused’ on the task at hand for the Yellow Jackets to pull off a road upset later this week in the Class 5A Division 2 state playoffs.
Fort Mill (9-7) scored twice in the opening 20 minutes of Tuesday, May 6first-round win over Indian Land, setting up a second-round matchup against No. 2 seed Eastside High on Friday, May 9 in Taylors.
Mallory Kendall converted an 8th-minute penalty kick, and Taylor Collins smacked a 30-yard shot past Indian Land goalkeeper Emme Tice in the 18th minute to give Fort Mill a comfortable lead, which the Yellow Jackets held for the rest of the night.
Indian Land’s season is over at 8-12-4.
First-year head coach Ralph Latchana said his team was ‘outstanding’ in the first half, but felt disappointed that the players didn’t press on to extend the lead after halftime.
“The level of control, the passing combinations and patterns, it was exciting to see,” he said. “We started very well, I’m happy with how we executed. I’m a little disappointed because I felt we could have scored three or four. I think we’ll have to play for 80 minutes, rather than 40 minutes against Eastside. They’re very highly ranked, and we’ll have to replicate the first half from today to get that positive result.”
Fort Mill controlled the tempo throughout the evening, starting brightly and peppering the Indian Land goalmouth with plenty of shots.
Midfielder Gabby Giarrizzi earned an eighth-minute penalty kick after beating two Indian Land defenders enroute to the Warriors’ box before being tripped up by a defender. Midfielder Mallory Kendall dispatched the ensuing kick past the left hand of goalkeeper Emme Tice.
Striker Taylor Collins doubled the Yellow Jackets’ lead 10 minutes later. She controlled the ball from 30 yards out, level with the corner of the Indian Land box, before ripping a long-distance strike past Tice that rippled the upper-corner of the Warriors’ net to give her team a 2-0 advantage.
The home team continued to push the envelope throughout the first half, forcing Tice into several saves over the last 20 minutes of the opening half.
Latchana said his team has welcomed new ideas and attitudes about coaching and playing style, and that his locker room has plenty of fun personalities.
He said his team has always surprised him throughout the season, including a hard-fought home win against Clover High in March.
“We’re touching very close to getting that elusive big result,” Latchana said. “The finishing touches are there to be a really complete team. They take care of each other, control the tempo, work hard.”
Following the halftime break, Latchana subbed out starting sophomore goalkeeper Zury Parker for senior Jasalyn Cash.
Baxley Hunsucker had a chance to extend Fort Mill’s lead from 10 yards out, but her reaction shot from a skidded cross flew too high over Tice’s crossbar.
Nora Manucy did well to elude a defender and receive a good ball over the top of the midfield, but couldn’t get off a shot before an Indian Land defender shepherded the ball away for a corner kick.
Latchana rotated his lineup in the final few minutes, opting for a five-woman defense to secure the win.
Viviana Huereta Montauti fell to the ground in the Indian Land penalty box in the 78th minute, but the referee waved away a possible second penalty kick decision.
Fort Mill completed the sweep of three wins against Indian Land this season, having beaten the Warriors both home and away during the regular season.
Latchana said his team would focus on themselves in the leadup to Friday’s second-round matchup against Eastside.
“We’ll get good rest, refuel, and look at the film,” he said. “We’re the underdogs, the lower seed, and we’ve got nothing to lose. If we play anywhere near our level, we can win.”
