Savoy’s hat trick raids Vikings

GREENFIELD — Emma Savoy has turned into a star for the Greenfield High School girls soccer team. 

The sophomore, who transfered from Mahar this year, had it going offensively for the Green Wave on Tuesday, using her strong leg to score a hat trick in a 4-0 victory over Smith Voke. 

The win keeps Greenfield (10-2, 8-0) unbeaten in the Pioneer South division on the season, as they’ve already qualified for a postseason berth. 

“I told her if she stayed at Mahar, she’d blend in with them,” Greenfield coach Tina Riddell said. “Here, she stands out.”

The Green Wave controlled the game from start to finish, dominating in possession and finishing with an 11-1 shot advantage. 

Though they dominated possession early, they had nothing to show for it on the scoreboard, as the Vikings (4-9, 4-5) were able to keep the ball away from goalkeeper Neveah Stone. 

Greenfield capitalized in the 23rd minute as Savoy lifted a shot from just outside the box over Stone for her first goal of the game, the assist going to Kristina Reed. 

Savoy struck again with two minutes to play in the half, taking a pass from Victoria Marin and blasting it into the net to make it a 2-0 game at the half. 

“It took us longer than it should have taken to get going against some of these teams,” Riddell said. “It’s almost like they take the relaxed pace. They keep playing strong, though. They work hard at practice and are excited about where we’re at.” 

While it took the Green Wave offense some time to get going in the first half, they wasted no time getting started in the final half of play. 

After a change of possession in the 42nd minute, Savoy took the ball up and found Eva Pruitt-Dahl, who rocketed a shot from outside the box into the top corner of the net for the third Greenfield score. 

The Green Wave put the cherry on top with 14 minutes left on the clock, as Marin found Savoy, who dribbled around before lobbing a shot in from outside the box that went just over Stone’s hands and into the back of the net. 

All four goals came on difficult shots, as Riddell wants to see her team take chances like they did Tuesday. 

“Their confidence seems to go up throughout the game,” Riddell said. “They have a fear of trying things without goals, then we score and they try things.”

Defensively, Greenfield stonewalled the Smith Voke attack throughout. 

The Vikings were never able to establish anything offensively, as Green Wave goalie Dina Samake was only forced into action once, coming up with the save. 

Anytime Smith Voke seemed to get something going in transition, a Greenfield defender jumped in and got the ball and halted the attack. 

It’s been a while since the Green Wave have played with this confidence. 

Last year, they broke a 14-year streak of not making it into the playoffs, during which they had stretches where they didn’t win games for entire seasons. 

Now, Greenfield feels it can make a run in the Division 3 tournament. 

“They’re so excited with the thought of being able to see a banner in the gymnasium with their name on it,” Riddell said. “For them, this is really good. They can see they can do it and they prove it daily.”

The Green Wave look to stay rolling Thursday, taking on Mohawk. 

Greenfield 4, Smith Voke 0

Goals: (G) Savoy (3), Pruitt-Dahl.

Assists: (G) Reed, Marin (2), Savoy. 

Saves: (SV) Stone 7. (G) Samake 1.