UPDATE: On Wednesday, the Smyrna High girls' soccer team lost 3-2 to Indian River in the first round of the state tournament, at Cape Henlopen High School. Taylor Pugh and Missy Hubert scored for the Eagles. Caryn Deakyne made 11 saves in goal.
ORIGINAL STORY:
This year’s Smyrna High girls’ soccer team has lifted the program to new heights.
This spring, the Eagles achieved the best record in school history and earned a spot in the state tournament for the first time ever.
Over the past few seasons, the Smyrna girls have fallen just shy of qualifying for the 16-team state tournament, but this year, the Eagles left no room for doubt.
The Smyrna girls wrapped up the regular season with an 8-0 win over Polytech and finished with a record of 12-3-1 overall and 10-2-1 in conference play.
Ryan Buchanan, in his fifth season as Smyrna’s head coach, said balance has been the key to this team’s success.
“We’ve got 10 all-conference players,” he said. “They’re so balanced, and the top talent has no ego. They’re a team. It’s awesome.”
After just missing the cut last year, the girls wanted to make sure they would rack up enough wins to break into the tournament in 2009.
“Preseason, the girls said if we get 12 [wins], they can’t keep us out,” Buchanan said.
By season’s end, the Eagles had their 12 wins, and they pulled in the No.10 seed for the state tournament.
Senior goalie Caryn Deakyne, who had nine shutouts in 16 games, said the team did a great job of fixing problems and addressing weaknesses.
Another senior, Candace Wyre, who led the team with 27 goals, said the Eagles benefited from great teamwork.
“Everyone works together on the varsity team so well,” she said.
Both girls were thrilled about the chance to play in the state tournament.
“I’m so excited,” Deakyne said.
“We’ve been waiting for this since we were freshmen,” Wyre added.
Coach Buchanan was also thrilled to see the team finally get over the hump and into the state tourney.
“The seniors have worked hard,” he said. “All of them deserve this. They really built a program that we’re proud of.”
Eagles outscored opponents 67-18
Over the course of the season, the Eagles scored a total of 67 goals and allowed only 18. Nine out of Smyrna’s 12 wins were shutouts.
Candace Wyre scored 27 goals and added eight assists.
