STATE EXTRA: Mids made the match go

By Robert Sisk

The News Virginian

EASTVILLE

On Wilson Memorial, forwards like Lindsay Suyes and Angelica Thacker stole the spotlight.

But the girls stuck in the middle made the game go.

Midfielders McCauley Vailes, Dee Deacon, Paige Allison and Hannah Myers have been the silent heroes for the Green Hornets squad, and have been a part of almost every goal this season.

“A lot of people don’t recognize it, but a goal starts with us,” Vailes said.

“Like coach says, ‘the midfield keeps the game going, it keeps it moving forward,’ ” Allison said. “We make the game. We have an awesome defense and we couldn’t be where we are without our forwards, but we get the ball to the forwards.”

Deacon finished the game with an assist, helping Chelsea Tolbert find the net for the game’s only second-half goal.

“Defense wins games, Forwards get the recognition for the points and we do all the running,” Deacon joked after Wilson’s 3-0 Group A quarterfinal win over Northampton.

Myers said that, while their names don’t always appear in the headlines, the four know the work they put in and that’s all that matters.

“We run around with our heads chopped off sometimes,” she said, “but it pays off because in the end, while not everyone recognizes it, we do deep down inside.”

Wilson coach Scott Crist said that the midfield controlled Tuesday’s game.

“We put our strongest players in the midfield because they control the game,” he said. “If you can control the midfield you can control the game.”

Tuesday’s game had the added challenge of the hot and humid weather that greeted the players when they walked off their bus after a four-hour ride.

“It would have been nice for a cloud,” Myers joked.

“It was hot,” Deacon said. “I’ve never played in heat like this.”

Despite the Green Hornets’ two goals in the first half, the team didn’t shine until the second. Allison said that once the team got its passing down they cruised from there.

“I thought it was a really well played game on all of our parts,” she said. “I thought our team passed well in the second half, but we have some things to work on before Friday’s game.”

On Friday, the Green Hornets will play Region B rival George Mason in the Group A semifinals at Radford University. Wilson lost to the Mustangs 3-1 in the Region B finals. The mids struggled against Mason in their championship meeting.

“I’m ready,” Allison said. “I want revenge, that’s it.”