HOLLAND — Last season Perrysburg’s girls soccer team went undefeated and won the Division
I state championship.And while there are some high expectations this fall, the current team is looking
to make its own mark. PHOTO
GALLERYThe 2013 edition got off to a strong start with a 4-0 season-opening win over
Springfield Wednesday. After a scoreless first half, Perrysburg scored three quick goals in the second
half to put the game away.‘‘We were forcing it a lot because there was a ton of pressure on us, that we
need to score,’’ Perrysburg senior Lucy Walton said about the first half. ‘‘We have to get rid of all
those expectations from last year, relax, and play.‘‘We’re a different team. We have to get in this
groove and figure out each other, all over again.’’Margaret Bernard a co-head coach of the ’Jackets
along with Jorge Diaz, said the team should not worry about the expectations of others.‘‘This is a new
team, this is a new identity. We are going to set our own standards. We are not going to compare
ourselves, we’re just going to recreate ourselves,’’ said Bernard. ‘‘We are setting our own goals and
trying to meet those.’’While other area teams have already started their season, Perrysburg had a change
in its schedule and has been practicing and waiting to play and that might have led to some of the first
half jitters.‘‘Every team is going to come out and play us super hard; they want to knock us out,’’ Diaz
said. ‘‘This is good for the girls, because they need to have their A game all the time.’’‘‘Any
eye-opener is good. It’s hard coming into a season to know what to expect,’’ Bernard said. ‘‘We know
that other teams are going to play us based on how well we did last year; that’s their
mentality.’’Perrysburg had several good scoring chances in the first half, but Springfield goalkeeper
Erika Myers, a freshman, made seven saves and there was one team save.At halftime, Diaz said the coaches
told the team to relax and play their game and ‘‘if you do the things you are supposed to do, everything
is going to fall.’’

In the final 40 minutes, the Yellow Jackets
were a calmer team, moved the ball well in the offensive zone, and were able to finish.‘‘We definitely
responded in the second half and stepped up, played our game, and were effective,’’ Bernard said.
‘‘We’re ready to build on this, and continue to grow as a team.’’The combination of Walton and Allex
Brown proved to be lethal for the ’Jackets.Just 1:08 into the second half, Brown crossed the ball from
the right wing into the box and Walton finished, coming in from the left side.Just over four minutes
later, Walton returned the favor, putting the ball into the box along the goal-line and Brown was there
to tap it into the net.The duo combined again about five minutes later when Brown headed in Walton’s
corner kick to make it 3-0.‘‘You know you can always count on Allex for a great header,’’ Walton
said.The three goals came in a span of 10:02.‘‘Lucy is a great finisher. Allex is a good finisher. They
were second and third in goals last year,’’ Diaz said.A pair of freshmen combined for Perrysburg’s final
goal. Kayla Curson got the ball to Anna Kirby, who quickly turned and sent a high blast into the upper
right corner of the net, from about 30 yards out, with 17:24 left in the match.While the offense was
able to convert in the second half, Perrysburg’s defense played well the entire game in limiting
Springfield’s opportunities. Perrysburg goalkeeper Sarah Baer had to contend with several balls in her
area, but the Blue Devils did not have a shot on goal.‘‘I think we did OK. The first half was tough, but
the second half was better,’’ Walton said. ‘‘I feel we have a lot more that we need to work on, and
we’re going to come back and be even stronger.‘‘We’re not even to our full potential yet.’’