The Lady Indians have been on the road this week and have brought home two big victories; recording shut-out wins over both Robert C. Byrd and Preston County high schools. 

 

A 3-0 win over RCB was played Monday on Lady Eagle turf, where Coach John Reese said his girls played a fantastic game. 

 

"Byrd is good and we caught them on an off-night," he said. "But we just had a total team effort. Our girls were just strong everywhere."

 

Anna Cava started the action, scoring on a pass from Madison Ware, leaving BHS up 1-0 at the half. In the second period, midfielders Lacy Bryant and Kaitlin Smith combined for some excellent ball control, placing it in perfect position for freshman Braelynne Sandreth to score.

 

"Lacy passed it back to Kaitlin and she crossed into the middle and Braelynne hit the ball into the net," Reese said.

Up 2-0, Sandreth found another opportunity to score. 

 

"With 10 minutes left in the game, she drove through some players and shot an upper right corner kick, making it 3-0," Reese said. 

 

Sandreth had a big game, as did goalie Rory Marple. 

 

"(Byrd's) Ashton McCane had some great attempts, but Marple got the saves," Reese said. "She played goalie the whole game."

 

Reese also credited Ware and Emma Perine.

 

"They came in and they didn't miss a beat. They still controlled the ball on the field," he said. "It was just a great game for the whole team."

 

It was a significant win.

 

"That game was a conference win so it counts for sectionals," Reese said. "Having beaten Byrd and Liberty, we've put ourselves in a good position right now. We face Grafton Thursday, then we'll just have Lincoln."

 

Two more conference wins will enable the Lady Indians to host sectionals, he said.

 

Tuesday night, BHS traveled to Preston County where they performed an encore; again winning 3-0. 

 

"They were solid and it was almost the same as Monday," Reese said. "Cava scored the first goal and Braelynne scored twice. The only difference is where we totally dominated in the game against Byrd, we didn't play so well in the first half against Preston. Though we were up 1-0 at the half, we were just going through the motions. At halftime, I told the girls they can't just show up and play - that the game wasn't over. They needed to pick it up."

 

They came out of the locker room fired up and ready to play some ball. 

 

"It was a whole different half," Reese said. "They really came out for the second half."

 

Everyone on the roster got in the game and it was a good contest overall, the coach said.

 

Marple was goalkeeper for most of the game with McKenzie Randolph coming in for the last 20 minutes of the game. 

 

"She was solid and made some nice saves. She got some good varsity action," Reese said. "She's coming through for us and played a very nice game."

 

With two big wins to their credit this week, the Lady Indians have earned themselves a break. There's no practice today; the team's only obligation is to ride in the homecoming parade. Thursday, they will be back on the field and off again Friday. 

 

"This was such a critical week with both Byrd and Preston," said Reese, who is looking ahead to Tuesday's matchup with Grafton which will be played at Wayne Jamison Field. 

 

Reese has high hopes for this year's team. 

 

"I think this might be our year," he said. "They want it. They're hungry and playing hard. We just have to kick it in and finish it."

 

The Lady Indians stand at 6-1-2 for the season and No. 1 in the Big Ten standings.

 

Editor's Note: Photos from top of team rallying around Sandreth and of Bryant are by Tyler Maxwell of Ben Queen Photography. See more images from the RCB game HERE.