BUFORD -- Four goals in the first eight minutes. Hat tricks and more by Elexa Bahr and Brie Smith. No shots allowed on goal.
Whether the Class AAAA No. 2-ranked Buford girls soccer team was trying to make a statement or not, its 11-0 destruction of Northwest Whitfield in the first round of the Class AAAA playoffs Tuesday at Buford Community Stadium is sure to speak volumes around the state.
“We were really just trying to play our brand of soccer,” Buford coach Crystal Fowler said. “We’re trying to be more focused out there. I thought we did a good job of that.”
It wasn’t just in the score, it was in the total blitzkrieg unleashed by the Lady Wolves, who came in as the top seed from Region 8-AAAA. They produced nearly two dozen shots from all angles and only three times did the Lady Bruins move into Buford territory with possession of the ball. In game-time it lasted a full 20 minute half. In real time, just 40 minutes and fans, players, and coaches were home before dinner time.
Smith finished with four goals and two assists and Bahr had four goals to pace Buford. Ambria Shutts added two goals and one assist, Annie Mayo had one goal, and Mia Edmond had two assists and Brooke Horist one assist for the Lady Wolves.
Buford (13-1) pushed its win streak to nine with the victory and the defense has allowed just one goal with eight shutouts during the streak. The Lady Wolves have netted 54 goals in that span.
But despite the lopsided win, Fowler said there were plenty of things to improve on as they try to make a deep run into the playoffs.
Despite a pair of goals by Smith just 45 seconds apart and a third goal by Bahr 1:23 later for a 3-0 lead just 6:28 into the contest, Fowler said they missed some chances early.
“Honestly it wasn’t as fast as I was hoping we would start,” Fowler said. “Looking ahead there are some really good teams out there and you can’t miss out on scoring chances when they come to you. We started moving the ball around and the goals started to come.
“Team chemistry is a big thing we’re working on right now. If we get past the next round St. Pius is there and that will be our big hurdle.”
The Lady Wolves next will play host to No. 7 Mary Persons, a 10-2 winner over Westover, in the second round next Tuesday.
After the three quick scores, Buford continued to keep the pressure on the Lady Bruins (4-7-2) who came into the match having allowed just seven total goals over their last four matches. Shutts, on a pass from Horist, made it 4-0 just 1:13 after Bahr’s first goal and then Smith got her third goal on a long drive down the left sideline with 24:51 remaining.
Bahr added her second and third goals over the next six minutes for a 7-0 lead with 19:02 left in the first half. Fowler then took the starters out until around the five minute mark.
It appeared the match would go to a second half until the Lady Wolves exploded for three goals in a 55-second span. Smith scored on a pass from Edmond at 3:55, Shutts headed in a beautiful feed from Smith at 3:35, and Mayo capped the explosion with a 25-yard blast with 3:00 left to make it 10-0. Bahr capped the scoring with a shot with :01 second left in the half.
“We’ve been rolling pretty good but I would like to see them share the ball a little more,” Fowler said. “I think our defense has been outstanding though.”
Buford lost to Blessed Trinity last year in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs. The Lady Wolves lost to St. Pius in the Class AAA semifinals in 2013 and lost to GAC in the 2012 semifinals.
“We’re just going to try and get ready for the next round,” Fowler said. “We’re not going to look past anyone but we know St. Pius and some others are out there so we want to be ready for them.”
