Reynolds senior Christina Shimshock has 26 goals this season after Tuesday night’s home win over Hendersonville.
REYNOLDS – On Tuesday night in East Asheville, defending 3-A state champion Reynolds played host for a girls soccer game against previously-undefeated Hendersonville.
Something had to give.
After Hendersonville took an early lead, the Rockets fought back to win, 4-2, despite playing most of the game with 10 players due to a red card.
The game could not have started any better for the Bearcats (13-1-1).
Just 10 minutes in, sophomore captain Breanna Kirk drew a foul just outside the penalty area and close to the end-line. Even with a difficult angle, Kirk scored her 10th goal of the season by curling the ball up and over Reynolds keeper Brooke Reaves and into the top corner.
However, the Bearcats barely had time to celebrate. The Rockets (11-1-3) took the ensuing kickoff and rushed the ball upfield via one-two combinations between Christina Shimshock and Kara Arroyo. Shimshock laid the ball off to Arroyo, who struck it cleanly into the top corner, tying the game at 1-1 just seconds after Hendersonville’s opener.
The opening 20 minutes were very open and provided chances for both teams. In the 15th minute, Shimshock, a Lenior-Rhyne recruit, won a corner kick and then proceeded to score a header from the set piece. This brought her goal tally for the season to 26.
The game took one final turn before halftime. Reynolds junior Ellie Montes was given a straight red card for dissent to the referee. Reynolds would have to play the remaining eight minutes of the first half and all of the second with 10 players.
Although Reynolds had a 2-1 lead at halftime, the team needed to regroup, coach Patrick Gladys observed.
“Halftime was very important. I needed an opportunity to talk to them, and since there are no timeouts in soccer, we had to have a little heart-to-heart at halftime. The girls took the message to heart and we played a great second half,” Gladys said.
The halftime speech paid dividends for Gladys in the second half. The Rockets controlled most of the ball in the second half, scoring goals through sophomore Grace Sloan and freshman Madison Wommack to push the lead to 4-1. Hendersonville freshman Martha Smith pulled back a late consolation goal off of Kirk’s 23rd assist of the season to make the final score 4-2.
Bearcats head coach Amber McCullough was not happy that the team got its first loss of the season, but she felt that it would only help in the long run.
“It’s hard when you are beating teams by so much, and you get a little bit complacent. I think they got caught in that complacency tonight. Everybody hates to lose, but overall this was a good thing for us. I think it will take us to where our goals need to be,” said McCullough.
By beating Asheville High and contending closely with Reynolds, 2-A Hendersonville showed its ability to play with the traditional powerhouses of the area. McCullough was proud of the way her team played.
“We can hang with any team on any given day, which is a new feeling for us, but it’s a good feeling. Overall, it was a good effort; I don’t question any of their heart. I think they’ll be ready to bounce back against Madison on Friday,” said McCullough.
Hendersonville’s next game is a return to the Western Highlands Conference, while Reynolds will continue Mountain Athletic Conference play Wednesday against North Buncombe.
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