All of the hard work is starting to pay off for the Morgan Academy girls’ soccer team.

The Senators pitched their third consecutive shutout Wednesday in a 4-0 victory over Coosa Valley.

The win keeps Morgan Academy very much alive in the Alabama Independent School Association playoff race, although that’s far from the team’s focus with games still left to be played in the regular season.

“We’re not worried about the playoffs,” said Morgan head coach David Snider. “We’re worried about the next game, and the playoffs will take care of themselves.”

If the Senators play like they did Wednesday, they could be a scary team come postseason time.

Krishna Patel scored her first two goals of the season and Autumn Allday kicked one just above the Coosa Valley keeper’s outstretched arms to score her first goal of the year.

“We had two girls score for their first time this year,” Snider said. “It’s hard to describe [the emotions] to see them score after all the hard work that they put in every day.”

Brooklyn Whitaker added Morgan Academy’s other goal in the opening minutes of the second half.

Morgan was aggressive on offense most of the afternoon and kept possession of the ball most of the way.

“They are finally clicking offensively and defensively,” Snider said. ”They are just playing with a lot of heart and going out and playing for each other.”

Any time Coosa did threaten, goalie Sarah Combs was there for the Senators. She stopped every shot that came her way.

The Senators next game will be Morgan’s final home contest March 30 against Hooper Academy.

 

Senators’ boys no match for defending champs

Morgan Academy was no match Wednesday for two-time defending state champion Coosa Valley.

Coosa scored the first three goals and held on for a 3-1 victory. Even in defeat, Senators head coach Jay Minter was proud of his team’s effort against one of the AISA’s top soccer programs.

“This is the first game we’ve ever really made them fight to the end,” Minter said. “I’m proud of them. They fought and played well together. We have stuff to learn and grow but if you aren’t going to make the playoffs, that’s a good game to have toward the end of your season.”

Will Haynes scored two goals for the Rebels and Reagen Carpenter added another. Diyan Patel scored the Senators’ lone goal on a runout late in the second half.