Staff report
ěRemember last yearî were three words Salisbury soccer coach Matt Parrish wrote on his scouting report before Salisbury met Piedmont Friday night in the second round of the 2A playoffs.
For the record, last year Salisbury lost its first game of the playoffs to Cuthbertson at home. Parrish didnít want the same scenario.
But for a half, he wondered if his team had listened to him. The Hornets trailed the Panthers 1-0 at intermission.
ěThey dominated,î Parrish admitted.
Parrish must have given a speech Knute Rockne wouldíve been proud of. Salisbury came out in the second half pumped up and eventually won 2-1.
ěI challenged them at halftime,î Parrish said. ěI wanted them to remember losing at home last year and how it left a bad taste in their mouths. They came out in the second half and it was like two completely different teams.
Madison Kennedy and Jenna Bryan combined to tie the game as Kennedy fed Bryan, who caught the goalkeeper cheating and she scored.
ěIt was a one-touch shot,î Parrish said. ěIt really powered us.î
Kennedy then scored the game-winner with about eight minutes left.
From that point on, the pressure was on Salisbury keeper Olivia Rankin.
ěThey sent the house,î Parrish said. ěOlivia stopped two point-blank shots. I canít say enough about the way she played.î
Parrish also praised the play of Alee Johnson and Whitney Brown, adding that this playoff victory was all about heart.
This would be the last game for the seniors on their home field since Salisbury, despite a 17-0-2 record, is going on the road for the rest of the playoffs.î
Next up is a trip to West Stokes on Wednesday. West beat Forest Hills 7-1.
Parrish has one hope: that he sees the Hornets who played flawlessly in the second-half on Friday.
ěWe came in like lambs, Parrish said, ěand we left like lions.î