Lady Bengals Top Nation Ford in Game 1

Blythewood goalie Lauren Killian boots the ball back in play against Nation Ford.

The Blythewood girls’ soccer team (18-3) started their 2013 class 4A state playoff run Monday night by defeating the Lady Falcons of Nation Ford (11-12) 4-0. Blythewood took control of the game quickly when Kylie King scored in the third minute. Despite taking the early lead, at halftime the Lady Bengals were holding onto a slight lead of 1-0. Blythewood head coach Mike Mauldin believed that Nation Ford did a good job of executing their game plan through the first 40 minutes.

“The first half we played their game,” Mauldin said. “Their physicality took us out of our game a little bit.”

At the start of the second half, the Lady Bengals made the adjustments they needed because they scored another quick goal in the 41st minute off the foot of Yinko Ladapo.

“That goal was huge,” Mauldin said. “It took a ton of pressure off of us.”

Ladapo’s goal made it 2-0, and just four minutes later the Lady Bengals would strike again. This time it was Morgan Cordier with a left-footed strike from just inside the box. Up 3-0 Blythewood started to settle into their style of play.

“In the second half we came out and played our game,” Mauldin said. “We made things simple and created opportunities for ourselves.”

Blythewood created those opportunities by using speed and possession to counter any attack the Lady Falcons mounted. Blythewood peppered the goal by shooting 18 times with 10 of those coming on target. Nation Ford was held to just three shots on goal. The Lady Bengals also had a decided advantage on corner kicks, 5-1. As the game entered the latter stages Blythewood used their quickness and subs to stay fresh.

“We subbed a ton of people in and out during the second half,” Mauldin said. “And I think our speed was finally able to wear them down.”

In the 62nd minute, Savannah Purvis put an exclamation point on Blythewood’s win by netting her first goal of the match making the score 4-0. With the win the Lady Bengals were scheduled to host either Mauldin or Hillcrest in the second round on Wednesday (May 8). With a win in that second round game the Lady Bengals would advance to host either Northwestern or T.L. Hanna on Friday (May 10).

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