“Being challenged in life is inevitable, being defeated is optional.”(1)
So far, the girls soccer team at Cave Spring has lived up to this motto and risen to each challenge they have faced. With three wins in the past eight days, the Squires now stand at 4-0 on the season, including a goal scoring differential of 15 – 3.
Each opponent has brought it’s own set of challenges:
- Andrew Lewis – Always a tough opponent, especially on their home field, the Squires knew this would not be an easy match. Trailing 2-1 at half-time, the girls did not give up. Instead they adjusted their defensive approach and counter-attacked their way to a hard-fought 3-2 victory.
- Glenvar – Based on previous win-loss records, the challenge going into this game was not taking victory for granted. With a 3-0 lead at the mid-point, the second half challenge was getting everyone valuable playing time to build experience for the future. Cave Spring held it’s lead for a 3-1 final score.
- Northside – This team brought it’s own unique style and another puzzle to solve. How do you handle a deep sweeper that prevents you from getting break-aways? How do you play against an aggressive opponent? How do you shut down a technically talented attacking center mid and strong forward? Cave Spring answered each question emphatically. They scored by clawing through the outside, slicing and dicing up the middle, and even a 55-yard long ball with a great bounce. Defensively it was disrupt, disrupt, disrupt, patience, patience, patience, and not allowing any opportunity for anyone to get off a shot. The result was a decisive 4-0 win with zero shots on goal allowed.
The Cave Spring girls know better than to rest on their laurels now. In a few days they face their next challenge in arch-rival Hidden Valley, who has been racking up their own set of wins and goals scored. But, as 17th century playwright Moliere once wrote, “The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.”
(1) Roger Crawford
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