Sussex Academy soccer shuts out Lake 2-0
The Sussex Academy soccer team garnered its fifth shutout of the season with a 2-0 win over Lake Forest April 14. The Seahawks move to 5-2 on the season, while the Spartans are 2-5-1.
Seahawks senior Merrill Smith opened the scoring at the 30-minute mark off a pass from Katherine Portillo. The half ended with the 1-0 score. Sharon Rodriguez added an insurance goal at the 47-minute mark from a helper off the shoe of teammate Tayler Flaherty.
The Seahawks outshot the Spartans 14-3. Lake keeper Kyra Moyer was credited with 12 saves, while Sussex Academy’s Emma Westbrook made three stops. The Seahawks were awarded 10 corners, while the visitors had one.
“We have senior leaders in back getting us the shutouts,” said Seahawks head coach RJ Dina. “Our goalie is a senior. She’s outstanding. We have a high press too. Our girls are disciplined and understand how to press and where to be in that. We started against the wind and absorbed things, and they did a nice job to defend us. Credit to their keeper Kyra Moyer. She was outstanding. We are just a disciplined veteran group. We’re blessed with veteran players. Zoe [Probert] in the back is a lockdown defender. If it gets by her, we have a veteran goalkeeper with Emma.”
“We have a strong defense,” Smith continued. “Zoe’s a rock back there. I also think we’re a well-rounded team. Last year, we beat them in overtime 2-1. They were definitely coming for us and not holding back.”
“I think the wind helped us in the second half,” said Rodriguez. “It really pulled our spirits up because we struggled trying to finish in our attacking third during the first half.”
“Sussex Academy has a strong team,” said Lake head coach Andy West. “I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re in the final four come tournament time. My approach has been that we will compete with every team and we’ll enjoy doing so. For a team with just two wins, they’re still loving the sport and having fun.”
