MARYVILLE – As home openers go, this one was pretty darn perfect.
OK, so there was a lightning delay that pushed the start time back close to an hour. And the national anthem stopped playing midway through – first games always have kinks. Kudos to the crowd for singing the Star-Spangled Banner the rest of the way!
But Maryville's 2-0 triumph over Berry was a dominating performance by the home side. And Maryville at 4-0-2 is unbeaten through six matches for the first time in program history. (*Note: The program played an abbreviated season during the Covid spring of 2021 and began that schedule with 12 straight victories, so this year's run is technically the best start to a traditional fall season in program history.)
Pepe Fernandez knows a thing or two about great starts and great teams. The Maryville head coach just captured win No. 400 on the women's side Sept. 2 at Principia, and he coached the 1991 (first season), 1992, 1997 and 2012 squads to 5-1-0 starts.
He is seeing comparable results from the 2023 unit, and he knows there is more in the tank.
"The ladies played a very good game," Fernandez said. "The passing and movement and pressing games were fantastic. We still need to work on the end product, and I would have liked a few more goals, but it was an excellent performance."
Sophomores
Hannah Smoot and
Elle Fair scored the Maryville goals, both in the first half.
CCS Leader Has Four Goals
Smoot struck first in the 18th minute with a bomb into the far netting from the far-right wing. It was Smoot's fourth goal in six matches, which leads not only the team but the entire Collegiate Conference of the South.
Smoot, who finished the match with eight shot attempts and five shots on target, also likes how this season has begun.
"I'm super excited," the Mt. Juliet product said. "Our chemistry is just getting better every game, and we have a lot of talent across the board. I'm fired up to see how the season progresses."
Fair's goal in the 39th minute was the first of her career. Her initial shot attempt was blocked, but the Peach State product stayed calm and one-timed the rebound over the line for a 2-0 lead.
Except for those two goals, Berry keeper Maggie Jones was terrific. She made 10 saves and even stopped a penalty kick by Smoot in the 85th minute. The Vikings are now 2-3-0.
The Scots peppered Jones with 24 shots while limiting the Vikings to seven.
Chloe Chase contributed four shots and
Katie O'Brien three, with both firing one of their attempts on target. Maryville held a 12-1 advantage in shots on goal, and corner kicks favored the home team 8-4. The Scots finished the match with a 62 percent to 38 percent margin in ball possession.
Maryville plays again Saturday at Wilmington (Ohio). The Quakers are 3-1-0 heading into a Wednesday match at Manchester. Start time is 5 p.m.
