Sports roundup: Wilson girls soccer remains unbeaten; Riverheads softball, girls tennis win

Girls soccer: Wilson Memorial blanks Stuarts Draft

FISHERSVILLE — Wilson Memorial got an early lead and never gave it up Friday night in remaining unbeaten on the girls soccer season, topping Stuarts Draft 4-0 in Shenandoah District action.

Wilson's Bree Kindig scored off of a shot by Adelie Condra less than eight minutes into the contest, the only score by either team in the first half. The Hornets got two quick goals in the fist four minutes of the second half, one on an own-goal by Draft and the second by Logan Hoover to put the game away. Freshman Maggie Parrott added the final goal on a penalty kick.

After the game, Wilson's first-year coach Brandon Fern told his team after the game that they did a nice job of possessing the ball in the attacking half of the field. It's something the Hornets have been working on and Fern thought it came together Friday night.

"It's a little easier to possess the ball in the defensive half because it still allows the other team to sit back a bit," Fern said. "We wanted a hybrid tonight, where we could still possess and be calm in our defensive half, but then when we get it up into the attacking half we don't just have to go to the goal. Can we keep it and wait for the right opportunity?"

Fern liked the patience his team showed Friday in a win that improved Wilson to 8-0-1 overall and 6-0 in district play as the Hornets finished the first cycle through the Shenandoah District. Wilson has outscored district opponents 33-1.

"The other thing we can improve on is the through balls into the final third, but you could see that it was there," Fern said. "That is what I am looking for. Are they starting to get it in those moments? When you're patient in the attacking half you can start to see what the other team is doing and start to adjust. That's what we've been working on all this past week."

This is Fern's first season as head coach, although he coached a lot of the current Wilson players in travel ball when they were younger. A 2014 graduate of Wilson Memorial, Fern spent some time in Montana coaching before returning to Virginia. He took over a team that has tasted success, winning a regional title a year ago and making an appearance in the Class 3 state semifinals.

Fern is happy with where the team is this year as it hopes to repeat its postseason success. The coach said he would never say he was unhappy to be unbeaten in the middle of the April, but he is always looking for improvement.

"Whether or not we're unbeaten, I am always looking if the soccer is progressing," Fern said. "I think the first couple of games we had some really strong competition and once we got over that hump I feel that we have been able to calm down a lot more and really stick to the plan."

Wilson has a week off now before playing Fort Defiance next Friday. Stuarts Draft dropped to 6-3 on the season and plays Fort Defiance on Tuesday.

Softball: Riverheads tops Buffalo Gap

SWOOPE — Cheyenne Bottenfield pitched seven Innings of three run ball, striking out eight to help lift Riverheads over Buffalo Gap in Shenandoah District softball Friday 6-3.

The win improves the Gladiators to 4-4 on the year and 3-1 in district play.

Despite a pair of home runs and a solid four innings of pitching by Caroline Alger, Gap couldn't hold on to a 2-1 lead heading into the fifth. That's when Riverheads broke things open, scoring five times in the top of the fifth to take its first lead of the night, one they wouldn't relinquish.

Riverheads had seven hits on the night, including a solo home run by Ella Galford. The senior's blast came in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1. Gap got the run back in the bottom of the inning before Riverheads' huge fifth inning.

Bottenfield scattered seven hits for the win.

Girls tennis: Riverheads rallies to beat Draft

STUARTS DRAFT — Riverheads found itself down two sets after the singles portion of Thursday night's Shenandoah District girls tennis match with Stuarts Draft.

But the Gladiators rallied in doubles, sweeping the three sets to claim a 5-4 victory, Riverheads' third win in a row. The Gladiators are now 7-4 overall and 5-2 in the district.

Singles:

Makarah Hollinger (R) def. Bethany Stevens 8-2Rachel Liu (SD) def. Brenna Collins 8-4Chloe Truslow (SD) def. Madison Catlett 8-5Abby Piner (R) def. Zoa Burns 8-1Isabelle Fitzpatrick (SD) def. Naiya Patel 8-1Anaya Johnson (SD) def. Maci Eppard 8-4

Doubles:

Hollinger/Collins (R) def. Stevens/Truslow 8-3Catlett/Piner (R) def. Liu/Burns 8-6Patel/Eppard (R) def. Fitzpatrick/Johnson 8-5

Athlete of the Week

The News Leader is allowing fans to vote on our athlete of the week every Monday through Wednesday with winners announced Thursday. If you know someone who should be nominated in the Staunton, Waynesboro, Augusta County area, tell coaches to send the athlete's name and stats for the week to phite@newsleader.com by Sunday.

Also, if you don't see your team's results in the story, please have your school send information to phite@newsleader.com.

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— Patrick Hite is The News Leader's education reporter. Story ideas and tips always welcome. Contact Patrick (he/him/his) at phite@newsleader.com and follow him on Twitter @Patrick_Hite. Subscribe to us at newsleader.com.

This article originally appeared on Staunton News Leader: Wilson girls soccer wins; Riverheads softball, girls tennis get victories