CLAYTON — It didn’t take long for No. 14 East seed Cleveland to find out the Northwood girls soccer team meant business May 7.
Senior Kenzie Kremer intercepted a slow back pass by the Ram defenders and slid a ball past Cleveland goalie Cara Davis to give the Chargers an early advantage they would never relinquish in capturing a 4-1 victory in the opening round of the NCHSAA 3A State Playoffs.
The No. 19-seeded Chargers improved to 15-6-1 with the win while the Rams close the season at 12-7.
According to Northwood head coach David Holub, it was a total team effort started by junior Katie Fuller who had two goals, an assist and controlled the game in the midfield.
“Katie Fuller played as good a game as you will see in a high school game,” said Holub. “She controlled the game in the midfield, distributing the ball and managing the game speed.”
Fuller scored just three minutes into the second half with a laser from 20 yards out that evaded a leaping Davis and tucked neatly into the top left hand corner of the net for a 2-0 Lady Chargers lead.
Cleveland would score its lone goal of the evening eight minutes later on a PK by Cara Davis to cut the deficit to 2-1.
It would be all Northwood from that point forward, however, as the locals dominated the action resulting in the Chargers making run after run down the sides resulting in nine corners, two by Kremer, and two goals, one on a header by Fuller and the other on a score from Helena Hysong to make the final 4-1.
“Our ability to control the midfield and exploit the wins really led to the three goals in the second half,” closed Holub. “We beat a really good team and second seed from the Greater Neuse Conference tonight.”
Ella Strayer took the win in goal with four saves for the Chargers in 80 minutes of action.
Northwood moved on to tangle with Hunt High out of Wilson in second round state action.