T.C. Roberson
blanks Watauga 4-0
From staff reports

ASHEVILLE — It’s tough enough to take on the No. 1-ranked girls’ soccer team in the 3-A classification. It’s even tougher when that team is ranked No. 3 in the nation.

But when that team, T.C. Roberson, plays one of its best games this season, then a victory is almost impossible. Watauga found that out Saturday when the Pioneers fell 4-0 to the Rams.

“We found out just how good they are,” Pioneers coach Doug Kidd said. “They have so many different players that can break down your defense. They are extremely skillful and honestly, they probably had one of their best games, according to their coach.”

Kidd set up a game plan that put the Pioneers (7-4) in a defensive 5-4-1 formation. The idea was to stay close to the Rams and then attack more late in the game.

However, T.C. Roberson (12-0) foiled those plans with a Mackenzie Davis going with six minutes left in the first half. Davis followed with her second goal 15 minutes into the second half, forcing Watauga to attack more on offense.

It left Watauga’s defense more vulnerable and the Rams were able to stick two more goals, both scored by Katherine Ellis, on the scoreboard. T.C. Roberson outshot the Pioneers 17-5.

“We played extremely hard,” Kidd said. “The effort was definitely there. We made some mistakes that they capitalized on.”

Kidd said Watauga keeper Sarah Caldwell, who is headed to Furman next year, played well against the Rams.

T.C. Roberson’s first goal skipped off he wet artificial turf and just grazed through Caldwell’s hands.

“Sarah Caldwell played an amazing game,” Kidd said. “She just couldn’t control it and they tapped it in. We had to go to more offense, which I had hoped to do later in the game. It opened us up defensively and they got two more goals.”

Watauga continues its Northwestern 4-A Conference schedule against South Caldwell, which has struggled to an 0-9 overall record, 0-5 in the NWC. Kidd said he wasn’t worried about any fallout from the loss to T.C. Roberson.

“I’m not concerned about that,” he said. “The girls are ready to come back and bounce back Tuesday.”