Both the Goen and Frazer soccer teams lost their matches to Vardaman in a home game on Nov. 16. Goen lost 7-3 and Frazer lost 3-2.
Goen’s three goals were scored by senior strikers Lindsey Givens and Jordan Wright. Givens scored two goals, and Wright scored one. Frazer’s two goals were scored by senior wingback Gavin Weinstein and senior striker and co-captain Sebastian Harvey. This match was Weinstein’s first game of the season and thus his first goal.
Goen was at a disadvantage going into the game as several of its team members couldn’t attend the match. As a result, outfielders had less opportunities for substitutions when they needed to take a break, leading to exhaustion on the field. Compounding the players’ fatigue were additional injuries the team suffered during the game.
Junior Adair Gaines is one of only two goalies on the Goen team. Senior Castlin Myers, the other, couldn’t play in that night’s game. After taking an early knock, Gaines continued playing to ensure the team had a trained goalie on the field. However, she said she was not able to play to the best of her ability after taking the hit.
“I think I didn’t do so well because I hit my knee on the metal goal post within the first 10 minutes, so I was kind of out for the whole game,” Gaines said.
Frazer got off to a rough start as well. Two of Vardaman’s three goals came in the first few minutes of the game before the team’s defense had a chance to establish itself. As the game progressed, Frazer tightened up its defense and managed to concede only one more goal.
Despite their loss, Harvey said he felt Frazer was still the better team.
“I was really proud with how the team created chances and, after a rocky first 10 minutes, restricted Vardaman to very little,” Harvey said.
MSMS faces Winona next at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 5 at the River Walk Soccer Complex in the Blue Waves’ first district match of the year.
