​Eagles defense comes up big in 1-0 win over Pirates

by Michael Smith, Grain Valley News
 

The Grain Valley girls soccer team needed one of its best defensive performances of the season.

That’s because the Eagles matched up with Platte County, a Suburban White Conference rival. Grain Valley trailed the Pirates by one game in the conference standings and could put themselves in a tie with them with a win.

Having a strong defense was important for Grain Valley as Platte County came in averaging 4.82 goals per game and had only been shut out once all season.

The Eagles defense, led by goalkeeper Alayna Maybell and center backs Taylor Nicholson and Isabel Lopez, helped shutout the Pirates as they did enough to earn a 1-0 victory Tuesday at Moody Murray Memorial Field, putting themselves in a first-place tie with Platte County in the White Conference standings.

“I definitely feel like we stepped it up a lot,” Maybell said. “We did have some times we had the ball bounce in front of us but we recovered very well. If our midfielders made a mistake, our defenders were there to cover for everyone.”

Grain Valley was tasked with slow down Platte County’s two speedy forwards – seniors Lilly Kytasaari and Rylee Burris. The duo had a pair of golden opportunities in the second half. Kytasaari had a breakaway shot and tried to slip one inside the right post, but Maybell made a diving save. Burris had a breakaway attempt late in the half, but a challenge from Maybell caused the Platte County senior to push the shot just wide left of the goal.

“They have two really potent forwards and we were really focusing on being physical and not giving them time and space,” Grain Valley head girls soccer coach Brett Lewis said. “We did a good job of that. We limited their opportunities. The times we got close was self-inflicted mistakes on our end like letting the ball bounce over our head.”

Sophomore Josie Larry put in the lone goal for Grain Valley (14-2, 10-1 conference). In the 27th minutes, junior Radleigh Childers through the ball in near the 18-yard box. Senior Mia Cole tapped the ball toward Larry, and she blasted the ball inside the left post.

It was a much needed goal for Larry who had been on a scoring drought.

“It was really big,” Larry said. “I was really down on myself because I felt like I hadn’t stepped up like I did in the Platte County Tournament and against Truman earlier in the year. This was a confidence boost to help my team get a win.”

Added Lewis: “Josie hadn’t scored in a while, but she’s had opportunities. She’s been a little down on herself. We just wanted to let her know she has been making an impact on the game. That was a really good moment for her.”
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Grain Valley junior goalkeeper Alayna Maybell, left, helped her team notch a shut and sophomore Josie Larry scored the team's lone goal in a 1-0 won over Platte County Tuesday at Moody Murray Memorial Field. Photo credit: Michael Smith
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