BURLINGTON — Asheboro’s girls’ soccer team produced a couple of goals that looked like they might have been drawn up that way in Thursday night’s game.
The result was a 2-1 road victory against Burlington Williams at Burlington Memorial Stadium.
The second of the goals came off a corner kick, with Jaira Arellano’s header completing the sequence off a delivery from Grace Bigelow.
Bigelow’s intent was to provide the goal for herself when she blasted the corner kick.
“I was trying to curve it in to go in the goal,” Bigelow said. “Jaira was in the perfect spot and put it in.”
The winning goal came with 12:26 remaining. Asheboro coach Emily Ramon said the sequence was another good sign from the Blue Comets.
“We practice finishing, but not necessarily corner kicks specifically,” Ramon said.
Arellano said it was important to take advantage of the late-game situation.
“It was 1-1 and there was a lot of pressure,” Arellano said. “I just try to put it into the goal.”
Bigelow said that Blue Comets captain Penny Smith usually takes corner kicks, but she was out of the game at the time. Bigelow filled in well.
“I enjoy taking them,” she said.
Ramon appreciated Asheboro’s first goal because that stemmed from something she emphasizes in practice. After a ragged first half when Burlington Williams had an overwhelming edge in possession time, the Blue Comets responded early in the second half.
That goal resulted from what the Blue Comets are trained to do. “Straight out of practice,” Ramon said.
Alexis Bautista gained possession and made a long pass to Arellano, who moved into position for a pass to Kimrey Watts. Watts produced her fourth goal of the young season.
“Thankful that I got it into the goal,” Watts said.
Burlington Williams tied the score before the midway mark of the second half before the Blue Comets converted off the corner kick.
After taking the late-game lead, the Blue Comets still had work to do. Goalkeeper Crystal Castaneda made 11 saves, but she exited the game with 3:18 remaining after one of the Bulldogs stepped on her elbow. So in came Emely Tejeda as Burlington Williams was pressing.
Tejeda made a clean play on the one ball she fielded and produced a strong clearing boot, and those were enough to complete the task.
“She can handle it when she gets in,” Ramon said.
The outcome lifted Asheboro to a 2-1 record.
Other results
** Bigelow had the only Asheboro goal in a 4-1 loss earlier in the week to visiting Pinecrest.
** Southwestern Randolph defeated host Eastern Guilford 3-0 with Ashlyn Harbor scoring twice and Kayla Hernandez supplying a goal and an assist. Earlier in the week, the Cougars had a 3-3 road tie with Trinity with two goals from Harbor and one from Hernandez.
Goalkeeper Rylynn Gaines of Southwestern Randolph was credited with 30 saves across the two games.
** Trinity produced a 7-1 victory against visiting South Davidson.
** Wheatmore’s 8-0 romp past host Montgomery Central came with Jocelyn McDowell’s five goals and two more from Emmie Messner.
McDowell had the lone Wheatmore goal in a 4-1 loss at Ledford.
** Uwharrie Charter Academy posted a 6-0 road victory against East Rowan.
** Providence Grove won 1-0 vs. visiting Jordan-Matthews on Natalie Hernandez’s goal.
