COLUMBIA, S.C. — The Wilson Youth Soccer Association ‘06 Explosion finished its second season in the U.S. Youth Soccer National League Piedmont Conference’s U14 Girls Premier division with a pair of wins last weekend, Nov. 2-3, to finish the fall with a 7-3-1 mark, good for third place in the 12-team league.

The Explosion nudged Inter Atlanta FC 1-0 on Saturday at Southeast Freight Lines Soccer Center on Mariah Polk’s goal with three minutes left in the game. After trapping a serve of some 30 yards by Maddie Brown, Polk rocketed a shot to the back post for the game winner.

On Sunday, Brown punched in a goal in the first 10 minutes against Roswell (Georgia) SC Santos Blue, who answered with the equalizer in the second half. With 20 minutes to go, Avery Williams gathers up a loose ball and directs it into the net for the winner.

“It’s always nice to find a win or two against quality teams,” WYSA head coach Thomas Goines said. “However, I am proud of how these girls have grown throughout the entire season. They finished league play with their two most complete games of the year to date.”

The Explosion will head to Orlando, Florida, on Thanksgiving weekend to play in the The Disney Showcase.

‘03 EXPLOSION

Tyson’s goal sends WYSA into Kepner

MEBANE — Mackenzie Tyson’s unassisted goal in the 82nd minute sparked the WYSA ‘03 Explosion to a 3-2 victory against Catawba Valley Soccer Club Blast Blue on Saturday, Nov. 2. The win puts the Explosion into the Kepner President’s State Cup 16U Girls tournament in Asheville this weekend. Wilson will face Neuse River Football Association 03 Red on Saturday.

To get there, the Explosion had to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the second half against CVSC Blast Blue. Kristen Armstrong got the comeback started with a 46th-minute goal, assisted by Hannah Mosley. Two minutes later, Taylor Smith turned a pass from Kaitlyn Swartzfager into the equalizer.

Per team stats, Wilson posted a whopping 43 shots to five by Blast Blue. Wilson goalkeeper Parker Barnes made two saves.

“We played extremely smart,” assessed Wilson head coach Harrison Lamm. “We only had two mistakes and the other team was able to capitalize on them. The girls worked together and got the job done. This is what I knew this team could do all season.”

‘04 EXPLOSION

Wilson ends fall with 5-0 victory

The ‘04 Explosion girls ended their season in the North Carolina Youth Soccer Association’s Fall Classic League with a 5-0 defeat of North Carolina Football Club Gold Durham/Chapel on Sunday, Nov. 3, at Gillette Soccer Complex.

The win left the Explosion with a 3-3-1 mark in 16U Girls Second Division East play.

Mallory Jenkins scored three goals and delivered an assist to Amber Patterson for Wilson’s second goal. Corinne Denham provided the assist to Jenkins on the first goal of the match before Jenkins returned the favor on the third goal in the first half.

Jenkins drilled a shot off an NCFC player for the fourth goal before getting her hat trick with Chloe Villaverde on the save.

The Explosion will play in the Capitals Falls Classic tournament in Virginia next weekend, Nov. 15-17.