Middleton, Fla. — Tuesday night's match between The Villages High School girls soccer team and Leesburg didn't figure to be much of a match on paper. The Buffalo came into the contest undefeated, while the Yellow Jackets entered a paltry 1-3 on the season.
But, for one half, mental miscues from the home VHS side left the door open for the visitors, before a strong second half sealed a 6-0 win for the Buffalo (5-0) at The Range at H.G. Morse Stadium in Middleton.
"It was all mental with these girls tonight," head coach Brian Rausch said of the slow start. "We didn't play our game the first half, but it was due to the mental part of every player on the team."
The first real threat of the match came from Leesburg (1-4), as senior striker Arriaga Furman forced VHS senior goalkeeper Taylor Fugate to make a difficult kick-save to keep the contest scoreless.
At the other end, LHS goalie Riley Goldberg was up to the first several challenges, keeping the Buffalo out of net. Eventually, the home side broke through on the Jacket keeper's first mistake of the night. After Goldberg stopped her initial shot, senior Emma Johnson collected the rebound and put it away for the initial 1-0 lead.
Seventh-grader Ana Porrs put in a second goal before halftime, receiving a free-kick pass over the top of the defense from senior Anna Rausch to double the lead.
In the second half, junior midfielder Kianna Burgos notched a brace, senior center back Gianna DiMaggio headed home a corner kick, and junior winger Hadassah Tesinsky tucked a shot away to ring up the final score.
VHS improved to 5-0 on the year with the win, but will face its first true test Thursday when it travels to Alachua to take on former regional rival Santa Fe (3-3) in the Buffalo's first road game of the season.
"We've got to change our attitude by then and play to win the game, not play to not lose," Brian Rausch said. "We have to go into that game knowing we can win it and they have to come out mentally prepared for it."
Drew Chaltry can be reached for questions or comment by calling (352) 259-6890.
