Class 5A girls soccer: Springville rolls past Gulf Shores
Springville put on a scoring display in capturing the Class 5A girls championship on field 1 at John Hunt Park in Huntsville on Saturday.
The Tigers beat Gulf Shores 9-4 to take home the blue map. It was Springville’s first championship in the program’s nine-year history.
“The girls team has never been in the final four before,” third-year coach Meg Childress said. “It was lots of hard work, long practices and a great group of girls.”
Springville sophomore Rebecca Sierra, named the game’s most valuable player, scored four goals for the second-ranked Tigers (21-2). She also had two assists. She finished with 62 goals for the year.
“I think what motivated us the most was last year we lost in the third round of the (6A) playoffs,” Sierra said. “And this year we just wanted to come back, and we grew stronger as a team. I think we play a lot of good teams, and we always learn from our mistakes. I’m so proud of my team.”
Audrey Duckworth added two goals for the Tigers. Annie Grant, Zoey Blaszczynski and Maggie Nalley had one goal apiece. Springville led 6-2 at halftime.
Sierra opened the scoring in the fifth minute when she intercepted an attempted clearance and finished inside the box.
Jensen Ward scored two goals for fifth-ranked Gulf Shores (20-10). Hannah Strachan assisted on her second goal. Reese Wood and Calista Sweet had one goal apiece for the Dolphins.
Springville goalkeeper Sophie Crotts finished with five saves. Kayleigh Steele made five saves for Gulf Shores.
“I think that Springville had a great game plan,” Dolphins third-year coach James Ward said. “They had some amazing players. And this is the first time in (Gulf Shores) school history to be in a final, even to be in a final four. So, it’s a great accomplishment for the girls. And I think we did an amazing job. So we made history for our school, and we hope to make it back sometime soon.”