APA wins first girls' soccer title in school history
Arendell Parrott Academy defeated Carolina Day 2-0 to win its first state championship in soccer. Photo by William 'Bud’ Hardy / Neuse News
The team known for its defense got a taste of its own medicine in the NCISAA 3A girls soccer state championship match.
High-scoring Parrott Academy was held to two goals, less than half its season average, but it was more than enough as the Patriots rode a flawless effort from goalie Ele Wooten to their first ever girls’ soccer title with a 2-0 shutout of Carolina Day School Saturday at Dumas Field.
APA's Ele Wooten had 17 saves in the Patriots’ 2-0 win over Carolina Day. Photo by William 'Bud' Hardy / Neuse News
Wooten recorded 17 saves, none bigger than a diving stop of a point-blank effort from the Wildcats’ Dana Tipton in the 60th minute.
With the game still scoreless, Wooten fully extended to her right, got a hand on Tipton’s shot, and then scrambled to cover the loose ball with Tipton poised for the rebound.
“That save may have won us the state championship,” APA coach Shivar Person said.
The Patriots finally broke through with 14:32 remaining. A perfect throw-in from Holland Killinger grazed teammate Megan Blair, who nudged the ball to Gisell Cervantes for the go-ahead goal just inside the near post.
Cervantes, who along with teammate Gabby Carriere also won a state title this year in volleyball, almost didn’t play in the second half after leaving the game with a heel injury midway through the first half.
“I was in some pain, but there’s no way I was going to miss the second half,” Cervantes said. “Not the championship game.”
Parrott iced the championship when Blair’s exquisite corner kick found Alex Melk in front of the net for the game’s second goal with 5:22 left on the clock.
The Wildcats were able to generate one scoring chance the rest of the way that was easily set aside by Wooten.
The championship run nearly left Person speechless.
“I really don’t know what to say except that I can’t think of a better group of young ladies who deserve this,” the APA coach said. “They’ve worked so hard; they’re tremendous athletes, and even better people. An absolute joy to coach.”
Without Wooten, especially in the first half, the Patriots may have had to wait another season to celebrate.
The visitors from Asheville came out the aggressor and outshot the Patriots 10-4 in the first 40 minutes.
A couple of spectacular saves kept the game scoreless and had the APA crowd chanting “Ele, Ele” by the break.
“I told the girls at halftime that we should have plenty of energy left for the final 40 minutes because we didn’t use any in the first half,” Person said. “Carolina Day has an outstanding team and they completely outplayed us in the first half. We were very fortunate to be in a scoreless game.”
Parrott did, indeed, take the fight to the Wildcats after intermission. Although shots on goal were even at 7 in the last 40 minutes, the Patriots, by far, enjoyed the better scoring opportunities.
Despite being outshot 17-11 on the evening, the Patriots rarely seemed in serious jeopardy with Wooten in net.
“I’m just glad I could do my part to help this team win a championship,” said Wooten, who allowed just one goal in three playoff games. “I was nervous at the start, but I just kept telling myself that nothing was going to get past me.”
Arendell Parrott's seniors, Brooke Holmes, Gabby Carriere, Karmen Heath and Lindsey Thomas, end their careers as state champions. Photo by William 'Bud' Hardy / Neuse News
The title was also a fitting climax for four Patriot seniors: Carriere, Karmen Heath, Brooke Holmes, and Lindsey Thomas.
“Those four young ladies have been through both the good and the bad,” Person said. “They’ve worked unbelievably hard, and to be able to see them leave Parrott Academy as state champions is a dream come true.”
