Pittard's late goal lifts Knights over Voyager, 2-1
Apr. 14—OXFORD — Immediately following the final whistle isn't normally the time Vance Charter girls soccer coach Johnny Yount sets aside for prayer. But Yount, who many locals also know as the pastor of Island Creek Baptist Church, took a knee near the sideline Thursday as his Knights celebrated a dramatic 2-1 win at home over Durham's Voyager Academy.
This was a special, spontaneous prayer for Yount, who began coaching Vance Charter's boys soccer team five years ago before later taking the reins of the girls program. A win over the class of the Triangle North Athletic Conference had been elusive.
Until Thursday evening at Granville Athletic Park.
"I've only beaten Voyager at the middle school level," Yount said. "So this is the first time in any varsity — men's or women's — that I've been a part of a winning team against them."
After the Knights knocked on the door for much of the second half, Vance Charter senior Peyton Pittard scored the winner about three minutes from full time, collecting a long pass from sophomore Katherine Suther before dribbling past the Vikings' last defender deep into the right side of the penalty box and pushing the ball past Voyager goalkeeper Cecelia Meath at the near post. Meath charged at Pittard, attempting a slide tackle, but the Knights' leading scorer got the shot off before colliding with and tumbling over the freshman goalie.
Led by goalkeeper Camryn Stancil, Vance Charter's defenders held off the Vikings from there to preserve the 2-1 victory, running the Knights' record to 5-5 overall and 3-2 in conference play. Voyager, Eno River and Roxboro Community each have one league loss as the teams vie for position in the N.C. High School Athletic Association 1A playoffs, where Vance Charter went three rounds deep last season.
Stancil turned in an outstanding performance in goal, tallying 11 saves.
"She did fantastic," Yount said. "Only let one goal get by her today and she even gets a hand on that one. She played phenomenal in the back. Coming outside the 18 [-yard box] to clear balls out. If she doesn't do that, they get an opportunity on goal right there, so she played her heart out.
"Defense — can't say enough about them. They stepped up. We had some crazy substitutions today, unusual substitutions — Girls that don't usually come out, came out today. So trying to cover those spots very quickly. Unplanned, unscheduled subs, so they did well."
The warm weather presented challenges for both sides with temperatures in the high 70s and sun beaming down on the field for nearly the entirety of the contest, making water breaks necessary.
Having lost the previous contest against the Vikings 1-0, Vance Charter opened the scoring Thursday with 12 minutes to play in the first half when junior Addison Clary settled a short pass from freshman Maci Satterwhite before chipping and curling a left-footed shot from distance past the keeper at the far post.
Voyager leveled the score at 1 a couple of minutes before halftime.
Yount said he wasn't sure if his team could have done anything better on Thursday as it was strong in every facet of the game, allowing Vance Charter to break the season trend of losing close matches.
Voyager has been the program Yount has modeled his teams after; citing their class, fundamentals, coaching, sportsmanship, and integrity. That's why Thursday's win sparked such postgame jubilation for the Knights, and gratitude from Yount.
"It's a huge step when you come up against a program like this in Voyager — They're phenomenal," Yount said. "The 'V' on their chest, already, before the game starts, mentally, people think, 'Well, I'm already going to lose.'
"But the girls today — They believed. They really stepped forward. We've had some games with low energy and not everybody, all 11 on the field giving it their all. But everybody today — The girls on the bench were absolutely focused too, supporting and helping — And I'm grabbing girls and putting them into the mix out there and they're finding their spots. It's really nice when it comes together as a team."
