Three-peat for Lady Grangers
Published 12:40 pm Saturday, April 13, 2019
By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY
Daily News
It’s a three-peat.
The LaGrange High girls’ soccer team beat Sandy Creek 3-0 on Friday night at Callaway Stadium to secure a third consecutive Region 5-AAAA championship.
Friday’s win also gave the Lady Grangers an 18-0 region record over the past three years.
Sydney Ormsby had a pair of goals for LaGrange, and Caroline Thompson added a goal of her own in game’s closing moments.
It was an impressive all-around performance against a Sandy Creek team that could have tied for the region championship with a win.
“We said that we’re just going to grab hold of this game from the beginning,” said Colin Ross, who coaches the team along with Andy Fritchley. “But (Sandy Creek) came at us hard. They worked so hard. Their coach is an unbelievable coach, and their team is always ready to play. So, it’s an amazing feeling.”
It was scoreless until Ormsby gave LaGrange the lead with a goal late in the first half, with Thompson providing the assist.
It remained a 1-0 game until, with 10 minutes remaining, Ormsby scored on a free kick to give LaGrange a two-goal cushion.
With 2:42 to play, Thompson scored on an assist from Hana Sato to seal it, and the countdown to the celebration was on.
“It’s very special,” said Izzy Pippin, one of the team’s seniors. “When I was in 10th grade, I was excited when we won it. I thought, we can’t do this year three years in a row. But we did. I’m just very excited, and very proud for everybody on the team.”
While Ormsby and Thompson provided the goals, Ross said sophomore Maddie McPeters anchored a defense that didn’t allow anything.
On the rare occasion when Sandy Creek did get a shot away, goal keeper Rachel Harry was there for the save.
“She is so valuable,” Ross said of McPeters. “She breaks up play, and she protects that back line. And when you have the defenders like we do behind her, it makes it so easy.”
LaGrange closes the regular season next week with games against Opelika, Auburn and Smiths Station, and it will be at home at home for the opening round of the state playoffs.
