Lady Eagles season recap

ELIZABETHTOWN-The East Bladen Lady Eagles season came to an end in the fourth round of the 1A NCHSAA State Playoffs against the eventual Eastern Regional Champions, Wood Charter out of Chapel Hill in a 5-nil loss. Head Coach Jay Raynor and the Lady Eagles concluded their season with an overall record of 16-3-2. They earned the number-six seed in the 1A East Region through their stellar play throughout the season with an impressive 8-2 run in Waccamaw Conference play.

They were led by the Waccamaw Player of the Year, senior central-midfielder Heidi Rebollar as she was responsible for 21 assists and 18 goals to conclude an impressive career for the Lady Eagles. Rebollar unlocked opposing defenses with her passess through the middle and she controlled the middle of the park without the ball. The Lady Eagles roster had experience all around the field coming into this season and there was talent from front to back in Raynor’s first eleven.

The Lady Eagles backline was backed by senior defender Zoe Smith and sophomore Gabby Rebollar to create a stout defense in the back. Senior keeper Reese Hester and the Lady Eagles backline finished the year with 13 shutouts.The frontline was stacked with the pace of junior forward Iveonna “NeNe” Ward and the poaching ability of senior forward Molly Evans, who both were responsible for some big time goals throughout the season.

Junior winger Jackie Medina-Leal was also a threat to opposing defenses when she cut inside to her right foot, with a keen ability to blow past multiple defenders on the dribble to create chances in front of goal. The Lady Eagles scored a total of 73 goals this season on their way to a 16 win season. East Bladen will say goodbye to six seniors in Eli Padilla, Hester, Evans, Smith, Heidi Rebollar and Julia Stanley.

Heidi Rebollar and Smith will continue their soccer careers with Cape Fear Community College next season.