The Walter R. Johnson Middle girls soccer squad ended its season with a commanding 9-0 triumph against East McDowell on Oct. 25, capping a 12-0 mark in the Foothills Athletic Conference.
“It’s really exciting to finish unbeaten,” said Lady Yellow Jackets’ co-captain Ansley Rooks. “We’ve worked really hard in practice. We fell one game short of winning a tourney title last year, but we wanted it really bad this go-around, so we stepped it up and got it.”
WJMS scored five opening-half goals, led by left forward Nicole Andres Tomas’ hat trick plus one. Kalea Speas garnered the Lady Jackets’ opening goal just 45 seconds into the contest.
Joella Knopf (five assists, two goals), Rooks (goal, assist), Speas (goal, assist), Daisy Hensley (goal) and Courtney Anderson (assist) led the offensive attack for the Lady Jackets.
Knopf tallied the first two goals of the second half off assists from Anderson (25:30) and Rooks (31:15). Knopf (assist) returned the favor to Rooks (goal) at 41:30. Defender-turned-attacker Hensley scored on a deflection off the Lady Trojans’ goalie for the Lady Yellow Jackets’ final goal with five minutes remaining.
“I said ‘oh my gosh’ when my first attempt didn’t go in but then the ball came back to me and I shot it in,” said Hensley, another WJMS co-captain. “I love being a part of the first undefeated girls championship team in Walter Johnson history. Coach (Jordan) Meeks has made us be a better team as we have improved so much over the course of this season.”
The Lady Jackets’ defense was led by Margarita Francisco, Lillie Pittman, Arianna Conley, Elisa Garcia, Malea Massey, Sara Vinay, Macy Rudicill, Aggie Beach and goalkeeper Christina Perkins.
Starting midfielders Anderson, Kennedy Fisher and Rooks with reserve Katie Logan provided solid passing.
For the season, the WJMS girls soccer squad scored 76 goals (Joella Knopf – 36, Ansley Rooks – 23, Nicole Andres Tomas – 5, Courtney Anderson – 4, Kaela Speas – 4, Daisy Hensley – 2, Kennedy Fisher – 1, Katie Logan – 1).
WJMS also recorded 11 shutouts in its first regular-season championship while only surrendering two goals (one via a penalty kick).
“Christina Perkins ended up with 10 saves on the season and the defense had 11 shutouts,” said Meeks. “I could not be more proud of this team. Coaching this team was so much fun and I looked forward to going to practice everyday. I will really miss these girls. These are the times when you love to coach.”
WJMS’ regular season conference championship is only the second in girls history at the school. The Lady Jackets won the 2004 track title. (WJMS also won the 2010 girls basketball tourney title.)
Liberty 2, Heritage 0 — The Lady Knights closed out the season with a home shutout win Oct. 25 versus Heritage. Liberty (9-3 FAC) collected goals from Sislynn Norman and Karson Guthrie.
West McDowell 1, East Burke 0 — Emily Englebach, off an assist from Ana Gamboa, scored the lone Lady Spartans’ goal in knocking off East Burke Oct. 25 in Marion. W. McDowell goalkeeper Marissa Mann recorded seven saves (and 67 for the season).
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