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By Brian Pitts

Enterprise Record

The breakthrough seemed forever in coming, but finally it arrived against visiting East Forsyth.

Davie’s varsity girls soccer team had not beaten a Central Piedmont Conference opponent other than Parkland or Glenn between 2017-21. The War Eagles were 5-29 in the CPC during that frustrating stretch.

And according to coach Nathan Stephens, East fully anticipated beating Davie on March 30. The War Eagles pulled off a 2-0 stunner – the first win over East since it joined the CPC in 2017-18 and the first league win over someone other than Parkland/Glenn since a win over North Davidson in 2016.

“I’m on cloud nine,” Stephens said. “I don’t think anyone expected us to win that game. I knew we could if we played how I know we can play. It was awesome.”

Junior Katie Shupe gave Davie a 1-0 lead on a 25-yard free kick. “She hit it beautifully right over the keeper,” he said.

The second goal in the first half was gorgeous teamwork between sophomores Rebecca Devericks and Lexi Kulis, who scored to give her a team-high four goals.

“Lexi made a pass to Rebecca and Rebecca immediately hit the through ball and Lexi was already going,” he said. “So it was a 1-2 through ball. It was a couple of touches by Lexi and she nailed it right where it needed to go – right in the left corner. And I jumped really high.”

The effort Stephens got on defense was equally important. Sophomore goalie Avery Yount collected 19 saves, but much of the shutout credit goes to sophomore Riley Almond and senior Rachel Devereaux.

Almond stepped in when Emily Garner left with an early injury. “I had to move Riley to the center, and she did an outstanding job filling in for Emily,” he said. “She pleasantly surprised me.”

Stephens marveled at Devereaux. “The biggest defensive key was Rachel,” he said. “Rachel had that will to not lose. You could see it on her face. She was not going to let anything by her. She wasn’t going to let it happen. She willed it not to happen. The defense didn’t allow them to have as many good shots as they want.”

Notes: East (2-3, 1-3 CPC) had suffered 1-0 losses to Reagan and West Forsyth, which dominated Davie 5-0. … Between 2018-19, East outscored Davie 9-1 in four meetings. … Davie improved to 3-2, 1-2 with its second win in a row.