Beavers finish with tie, ready for Mavericks

EAST RIVER — A tie doesn’t represent a win, but it’s better than the alternative.

Kayla Mahood and Madison Hayes scored goals for the Bluefield girls soccer team on a cold Thursday evening at East River Soccer Complex, but the Beavers wound up in a 2-2 tie in their regular season finale against Nicholas County.

“A tie is always better than a loss, but I thought we had a little bit better territorial advantage,” Bluefield coach Gerry Enigk said. “We had an awful lot of shots, but their goalkeeper was probably the difference, she played an incredible game.

“We had a pretty solid game from our entire group. We were doing what we were supposed to do, I think the muddy field may have slowed us down a little on offense, but we had plenty of opportunities.”

Both teams scored their goals in the second half. Mahood’s came off an assist from Hayes, and Hayes was able to get the Beavers’ second score with help from Stacey Rogers.

The Nicholas County goalkeeper was under assault much of the second half, but refused to allow any other shots to get past her into the net.

“It looked like several of them were going in and she got her hands on them so I think that was the story of the game,” Enigk said. “You have games like that. We had a bunch of shots, but the goalkeeper did an incredible job.”

Next up for Bluefield (9-6-2) is James Monroe in the Region III, Section 3 Tournament on Tuesday at Princeton at 5 p.m. That game will be followed by Princeton and Wyoming East, with the winners advancing to the title game Wednesday.

The Beavers have already knocked off the Mavericks twice this season, 3-1 and 1-0. Enigk expects an equally close game on Tuesday, with the loser done for the year.

“It’s going to be real, real close, that’s the only thing I know about it,” Enigk said. “Our games with James Monroe have been pretty close for the past couple of years and that’s what we’re expecting is a good tight contest.”

Enigk has heard the old saying about beating a team three times in a season. The Beavers are just happy to have that opportunity.

“That’s what they say, that it’s hard to beat a team three times in the same season,” Enigk said. “That’s what we’re faced with and that’s what we’re focused on.

“That’s what we’re going to try and do.”

—Contact Brian Woodson

at bwoodson@bdtonline.com