WHS

blanks Avery
From staff reports

Watauga fell 1-0 to McDowell in a Northwestern 4-A Conference showdown Thursday night, but rebounded to beat Avery 4-0 Saturday in a game shortened by rain. Both games were at Jack Groce Stadium.

The Pioneers (2-2, 1-1 NWC) took a 1-0 lead on Avery by halftime and added two goals 10 minutes into the second half in a steady rain. The game was stopped after thunder was heard in the area with about 10 minutes left in the game.

Macy Johnson got the Pioneers started against with a goal in he first half. The Pioneers struck quickly in the second half with two goals from Ashlyn Baird and another by Lucy Binning. Both of Baird’s goals were scored off of corner kicks.

Binning also had two assists, while Anna Lisa Hart had another.

Pioneers coach Doug Kidd felt his team played better against Avery after a sluggish outing against McDowell.
“We watched the tape of the McDowell game on Friday and it showed a lot of areas where we were lacking,” Kidd said. “We did a couple of things better Saturday. I thought our transition with the defenders pushing up was better and I thought we were better at attacking the corners fairly well.”

Kidd would like to see the Pioneers improve on other things before they host A.C. Reynolds Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

“We’re making too many mistakes now,” Kidd said. “We can’t pass the ball correctly or if we can’t start receiving the ball correctly, we’re going to be an ineffective team.”

Kidd was also disappointed that the lightning struck when it did. He was ready to sub in some players who haven’t had a lot of chances to play.

“We were ready to get some players some time and see what they could do,” Kidd said. “It’s disappointing from a coach’s standpoint and certainly from a player’s standpoint, but it was definitely the right decision.”