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West enjoys a Good Friday: Shutout pushes Lady Wolves into regional quarterfinals
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
GRAPEVINE -- In its playoff opener, the Plano West girls soccer team used quick strikes in the first and second half to defeat Keller Fossil Ridge, 3-2.
Patience was at a premium in Friday's area contest against Grapevine as West's lone goal came in the 47th minute. But that goal was the only one scored by either team as the Lady Wolves defeated the Lady Mustangs on their home field, 1-0.
The goal was scored by freshman Ashley Smith, who was pulled up from junior varsity with three matches remaining in the regular season.
Both things proved true in the 47th minute.
The play developed with junior Brooke Ramsier making a run down the right side and passing to her twin sister, junior Casie Ramsier.
"Whenever Brooke has the ball, I just know where she wants me to go," Casie said.
And Casie knew what she wanted to do with the ball as she made a one-touch pass to senior Logan Beal. Beal's shot was stuffed by the Grapevine keeper, but the rebound rolled toward a trailing Smith.
"The ball came right to me," Smith said. "I was just hoping I wouldn't send it high."
Smith slid up to the ball and put it in for a 1-0 West lead with 33:06 remaining.
That goal revitalized the Lady Wolves' attack, which slowed late in the first half.
"Once you get that first one you get that taste," Phillips said, "and you want another."
With a lead in tow, West kept the ball largely on Grapevine's half of the field with juniors Taylor Barg, Taylor Jackson, Beal and Casie all getting quality looks over the next 20 minutes.
It was similar to the level of control West displayed to begin the match.
Junior Sparky Fischer set the tone with a lengthy run down the left side 70 seconds into the game. Her cross went high, but the team followed up with quality chances from Beal and Jackson in the first nine minutes.
"We got some confidence after that last game," Phillips said, "so we wanted to continue to be aggressive and felt we had the physical advantage in this match."
That proved true for much of the first half, but Grapevine gave West a scare in the 16th minute when Kelsey Shimmick fired a 21-yard rocket that necessitated a diving save from Lady Wolves junior keeper Claire Wheatley. But that attempt, and a busted 1 v. 1 in the 63rd minute, were the only good looks Shimmick got.
"We knew [Shimmick] was a good player; we didn't want to adjust what we do too much just for her, but we had to stay tight on her the whole night," Phillips said. "We did that and I think the defense as a whole played excellently."
Similarly choice words were shared for sophomore Jalynn Barron, who moved from forward to midfield and caused problems for the Lady Mustangs all evening.
"Jalynn was just wonderful," Phillips said. "She was great offensively and defensively."
Barron created a number of first-half opportunities, but none were successful as the game remained scoreless at the break.
"It was a little frustrating," Phillips said. "But at halftime I told the girls to be patient because we were doing the right things and getting behind them, so I knew if we kept doing that we would be OK."
That philosophy proved correct as Smith's score accounted for a 1-0 victory.
"The team has been really welcoming to me," Smith said, "and I know this is a great opportunity, so I'm glad I was able to contribute."
Smith may need to do so again in the regional quarterfinals as West faces 8-5A foe Flower Mound. The Lady Wolves were 0-1-1 against the district champion Lady Jaguars in the regular season.
"We've still got to tighten up a couple areas, like possessing the ball more," Casie said. "But I think we've been doing well and we're excited to play Flower Mound again."
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