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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

The Davie varsity soccer team’s drastically unlucky ways did not go away in the CPC opener at Mt. Tabor on March 6.
Last year the War Eagles went 1-6 in games decided by one goal. Last week was the eighth straight Davie-Tabor game that ended as a one-goal outcome; Davie is now 1-7 in those games after a 1-0 defeat.
While Tabor improved to 5-0, Davie was playing its first game in 10 days.
“It was a very competitive and equal game,” coach Corbin Kopetzky said. “We didn’t have as many shots as I would like to have had, but we also contained their shot opportunities as well.”
The Spartans had outscored four opponents 12-1, but their only goal against Davie came late in the first half.
“It was a good play on their part,” Kopetzky said.
Among the silver linings were senior Jaden Sink and juniors Lanna Robinson and Mallie Wall.
“Jaden, like I’ve said many times in the past, is a force to be reckoned with on that back line,” he said. “Lanna is always able to create scoring chances. She’s really good at backing down defenses and she’s able to make a good turn to get us into good opportunities. Mallie made some good plays. She was all over the place. She’s a bull in a China shop, in a good way.”
Davie 4, North 0
In a nonconference game in Welcome on March 7, Davie extinguished North Davidson with little problem.
It was a little bit of a struggle in the first half, though, as Davie was held to one goal.
“They’re a well coached team,” Kopetzky said. “He’s going to have them aggressive and ready to go. They were in the quarterfinals or semifinals of the state tournament last year, but they graduated their three best players and they’re young. But like I said, he has them ready to go.”
The War Eagles ran away in the second half, getting the goals from senior Lydia Postell, Robinson and sophomores Caroline Mitchell and Ava Hale. Postell and Fuller Kate Holt had one assist apiece as Davie improved to 2-1.
“I think it was just a mindset change (at halftime),” he said. “We hadn’t played since Monday and I think we had to work some of the rust off. We found our rhythm and that opened up a lot of opportunity for us.
“Lanna did what she always does – backs people down and creates a chance.”
Hale’s first varsity goal was a left-footed beauty.
“She went upper 90 across the goal,” he said. “It was amazing. It’s cool getting to see kids score their first goal. It’s a cool experience getting to see their excitement.”
Hale broke into the starting lineup, took full advantage of the opportunity and was named player of the game.
“We’ve been working her confidence up,” he said. “She was kind of timid in the first game of the season. We put her in a starting role tonight and she played 60-65 minutes of the game. She was a keeper on JV last year and had a season-ending injury at Reynolds. After tryouts I said: ‘Look, this is where we need you to be.’ Tonight she did everything exactly how she was supposed to. She’s a coachable kid. She’s going to give me 100 percent every time she steps on the field. She got an opportunity to see the stars and she went for it.”
Junior Varsity
The Davie JV opened the season with a 1-0 win at Maiden on Feb. 24. The hero was sophomore Katie Del Carmen, who scored in the second half.
After being idle for nine days, Del Carmen struck again in a 1-1 tie at Tabor. Her goal knotted the score.
“She’s going to give 100 percent the whole time,” Kopetzky said. “Katie can get in a one-on-one with a defender and will play aggressive. That’s what happened with her goal (vs. Tabor). She played aggressive, got around as she was getting bumped and it went right under the keeper.”
JV coach Collin Ferebee cited Kyler Quarles, Piper Davis, Gabi Sandoval and Kim Torres. Quarles, a sophomore who primarily plays center back and occasionally midfield, was outrageously good against the Spartans.
“Kyler played an absolutely beast of a game,” Ferebee said. “It’s honestly the best single-game JV performance I’ve seen in my six years.
“Piper also really opened up the offense, and Gabi and Kim never stop working and make the other girls want to work harder.”