Indian River High School’s girls’ soccer team returned to the state tournament this year, but their run soon ended, when they faced a familiar foe on May 22: Caravel Academy. The Buccaneers won, 4-0, but IR stepped up to prevent a repeat of the 6-1 victory the Bucs had gained over IR earlier this season.
Coastal Point • R. Chris Clark
Brooke Beam (2) takes a shot on the goal against Caravel Academy in IR’s 4-0 loss.
“It was definitely an improvement. The girls played much better. They were more cohesive as a team, which is a big plus,” said head coach Steve Kilby. With a 2-0 score at halftime, IR made some adjustments and moved into offensive position.
“They really did a good job playing in front of their goal for the first 20 minutes of the second half,” Kilby said, but IR couldn’t quite get to the goal, aiming a total of five attempts during the game that Caravel stopped. “Then [Caravel] scored on a quick breakaway, which was disheartening.”
IR goalie Alex Myers saved nine of 13 Caravel shots. The Buccaneers would themselves be defeated a few days later, by Sussex Tech, 1-0.
“Overall, there’s always disappointment when the season ends, but I think the group recognized the growth that was made this season, compared to last year,” said Kilby, noting the Lady Indians’ return to the tournament.
“The team improved steadily throughout the season. … I think they made that progress, learning how to play with a new back line and new backfield. They were able to figure out a lot of those things. They did a much better job of learning to use the flanks.”
This year, Meredith Mitchell moved from the back to mid-field, allowing IR to gain more control in that zone. As center back, Sarah Buchler was “controlling things” and allowed the team to play out of the back and go forward, Kilby said. Freshman Brooke Beam scored 20 goals this season, while Brianna Belfiore hit 10 goals and had five assists. And, after tearing her ACL last year, Sarah Swenson was back to start every game.
Built largely on freshmen and juniors, the 2013 IR team made great progress and will look for more down the line. The team will lose only one senior, Kimberly Benton.
“This core of freshmen — Brooke, Emma Engel, Davina Baine, Aeline Guzman, Madison Mercer — all made really big contributions for players that are really young,” said Kilby.
Baine also started each game, while Christina Diakos, a junior captain, played her way back onto the field after suffering an off-season concussion, which limited her play early this year. IR’s attack also suffered with Devin Thune’s severe ankle sprain. And Mariah Roughton was also downed by a concussion for part of the season.
However, the Lady Indians improved their record to 10-5 from last year’s 8-7, adding Smyrna and Delmar to their list of victories.
Buchler, Belfiore and Beam also made the All-State teams (first, second and third teams, respectively).
First Team All-Conference selections were Myers, Buchler, Belfiore, Beam and Meredith Mitchell. Meanwhile, Engel, Baine, Swenson and Maria Papavasili made Second Team All-Conference, with honorable mention to Guzman. Academic All Conference awards went to Buchler and Farris Hauck.
