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Ahead 1-0 through 70 minutes of action, the Bulldogs slowed down and failed to execute the final 10 minutes of the game, watching the Wildcats score three times in a span of seven minutes for a 3-1 victory.
“Inexperience, growing pains and not knowing a killer instinct yet,” said Thomasville coach Huey Turner of the letdown. “They are getting there, though, and we are still growing.”
There was a little more than just a YVC win at stake for the two teams. Turner once coached at South Davidson, with many of the players he taught the game of soccer on the field.
Trying to mess with the coach, the South players were constantly talking it up with Turner and sending catcalls his way. But he was the one to draw first blood with the help of the smallest player on the field.
Little Tang Xiong earned the team a penalty shot when getting taken down in the box with 20 minutes left to play. Freshman Alex Solis calmly approached the free shot and hit a low liner into the net for a 1-0 Thomasville lead.
The Lady Bulldogs held it as long as they could, but fatigue seemed to be setting in at the midfield positions. South took advantage and tied the score with 8:45 showing.
Mary Harrison took a long pass from a teammate and raced in to the sideline. She lined up a shot from 16 yards out and laced it past the outstretched arms of goalie Callie Kirsch.
Exactly four minutes later Harrison slid another into the goal, as Thomasville was visibly shaken by what had happened.
Moments later the walls completely collapsed around the Bulldogs as Jaqueline Thompson fired a shot that deflected off defender Lizbeth Cruz and into the net.
“It wasn’t about them [South] wanting to beat my girls — they wanted to beat me,” said Turner of the sudden change of events.
Thomasville visits a very talented Chatham Central on Wednesday.