Baravik a stone wall in shootout, Mustangs win division

Click to view image

Hattiesburg - The Lady Mustangs scored three goals in the shootout and sophomore keeper Abby Baravik stopped all three South Jones’ attempts to give WJ their 8th consecutive district 5 championship.

The Mustangs would press the attack early in the match as South dropped back five defenders. The Lady Braves marked junior forwards Beth Coleman and Payton Roney for much of the match.

“We expected them to come out with at least one extra defender,” said Coach Winship. “They have not been allowing many goals since we saw them back in December. We knew that we had to be very conscious on defense of their counter attack.”

The Lady Braves would have a few opportunities in the contest with one early second half shot striking the left post soundly.

The rhythm of the game would go back and forth throughout the second half and both overtimes with no team getting the better of possession nor shooting chances. Baravik would come off her line twice to erase potential breakaways by SJ forwards.

The game would be scoreless after 100 minutes. West Jones would shoot first. Coleman stepped calmly to the mark and buried the first shot. Baravik would cleanly catch the first SJ attempt. Roney was the next shooter and quickly made the score 2-0.

Baravik would make an enormous save by extending to parry the next SJ shot. Senior fullback Somer Anderson blasted her shot into the goal extending the lead to 3-0. After Baravik made yet another save, the game and the District 5-5A championship belonged to the Lady Mustangs.

“What a great game tonight,” added Winship. “I couldn’t be prouder of our team.”