By Shannon Fagan, WEIS Sports Director
CENTRE – At the rate Cherokee County High School soccer sophomore forward Ava Haygood is scoring goals, head coach Paul Sewell might spend a small fortune in popsicles following Lady Warrior practices.
Haygood has scored 29 goals this season – a school record. But in her latest match on Monday, it was her stops as a goalie on Hokes Bluff’s first, third and fourth penalty kick attempts that helped the Lady Warriors earn a dramatic 4-3 victory. The win clinched Cherokee County’s first area soccer championship in school history.
Not bad for someone who had no idea she would be playing in the goal in the game’s crucial moments.
“I didn’t tell her,” Sewell said. “I had decided earlier in the day if we go to PKs (penalty kicks), Ava is going in the goal. She actually went ‘Hey, how about putting me in the goal?’ I said ‘Ava, you were already going in the goal. I just hadn’t told you.’ She had two saves and affected the third shot. I knew it was the right decision.
“Cali (Martin) is an eighth grader (at goalie). It’s her first year playing, and it’s a lot of pressure. I didn’t want to put that pressure on her as an eighth grader. She would’ve done it, but I knew it was such a big moment and that’s a lot of pressure to put on someone in their first year. It can destroy confidence. I already knew we were going to the playoffs, so I wasn’t going to destroy her confidence if she were to lose that PK shootout. I knew Ava could rebound if we lost, but I had a pretty good suspicion she would do pretty good in the goal.”
“It was a lot of pressure, but I’m kind of up for anything,” Haygood said. “Whatever he asks me to do I’ll do it.”
Besides popsicles, the Lady Warriors’ reward for defeating Hokes Bluff last Monday is a home playoff match against Talladega this Monday at 5 p.m.
While Haygood’s stops on goal against Hokes Bluff were crucial, the key to the Lady Warriors’ history-making season has been Haygood’s makes on goal.
“Going into the season, we knew if we were going to score goals, a lot was going to have to flow through Ava,” Sewell said. “Our other forward (Berkley Isaacs) is a seventh grader and she’s coming along great, but you’re asking a seventh grader to start in a varsity match. That’s not an easy feat for anybody. We knew everything would have to flow through Ava and it has.”
Haygood has relished in the role, but she’s thankful for her teammates getting her the ball to give her the opportunities to score.
“I wouldn’t be able to score if it wasn’t for our midfield, Izzy Segura. She’s the one who gives me through balls and gives me balls to score on. Presley (Shumate) will come in and she’ll give me through balls. Bella (Segura), Reagan (Tallant), Berkley, just everybody. We all do things as a team.”
Haygood’s success on goal this season also has a lot to do with the work she’s done with her footwork in the offseason. Normally left-footed, Haygood has now become almost equally effective with her right this season, thanks to playing travel ball.
“I’m left footed and have no clue why,” Haygood said. “I’m right-handed. When I played basketball I dribbled right-handed, but when I was younger, I just kicked from my left foot more. I’m not as strong on my right foot, but I still try to shoot with my right foot. I don’t mainly focus on my left. I still try and do both. If I ever want to play in college I can’t just play on mainly one foot. I have to have skills with both of my feet.
“I just try and create opportunities for myself. Since I’ve played travel, my touches have gotten better. My footwork has gotten better. I’ve just gotten better overall playing travel. When I see opportunities for myself, like taking a free kick when the goalie is pushed up, I just try my best to be accurate. Even if it doesn’t go in, I still try to frame it so Berkley or our midfield can run to it if the keeper fumbles it.”
Haygood’s fancy footwork has made a world of difference for the Lady Warriors, Sewell said.
“Nine times out of 10, she’s the best player on the field for both teams,” Sewell said. “It helps a lot when she can go either way. Teams just can’t defend her.
“Last year, teams could force her one way and take away her left foot. If they took away her left foot, we were kind of stuck, but now she’s bringing that ball back to her right foot and taking just as hard a shot with her right foot. It’s really opened things up.”
And it’s opened up a five-game winning streak for the Lady Warriors. A win over Talladega on Monday would secure another first for Cherokee County – its first playoff victory.
But that’s still to be determined. Talladega features its own fleet-footed player in sophomore midfielder Piper Ervin.
“Our goal is to shut her down,” Sewell said. “If we shut her down in the midfield, it’s going to lead to some great opportunities. They’re fast, but if we can put the pressure on their back line and keep them from getting the ball to their midfielder, I think we can pull away. If we’re not on our game, they’re going to put it on us and they’re going to get some good opportunities for some goals.”
And it could create more scoring opportunities for Haygood and her teammates.
“I think we’re at our peak right now. I think we can make it really far,” Haygood said. “I think we all work very hard, and I’m very proud of all of us. We don’t ever look down or give up. We always try to keep fighting. I’m very excited.”
