Hickory edges Hibriten

Their playoff spots were already wrapped up and Hickory had already secured the conference title before Hibriten hosted the Red Tornadoes Thursday night in soccer.

Neither team could benefit or suffer in the standings with the outcome of the numerically meaningless game, but the teams with No. 1 playoff seeds weren't about to back down from each other or walk away from one last tuneup before the postseason kicks off next Wednesday.

Instead, Hickory, the Catawba Valley Athletic Conference champion and holder of the league's No. 1 3-A berth, and Hibriten, the league's top 2-A outfit, went after one another in a game that much resembled a win or go home matchup. Hickory won 1-0 to complete its unbeaten CVAC season (17-0-1).

Hibriten (12-10-1 overall, 11-7 CVAC), which played Hickory to a 2-0 overtime game in the first meeting, had a solid showing, however, hanging for the second time with a state power in a higher classification.

“I think mentally it helped us get ready for the playoffs,” Hibriten coach Shea Bridges said. “It was a good aggressive game. Both teams were getting after it.”

The teams played to a scoreless tie for a half and the game was very physical. Play had to be stopped multiple times for injuries, including late in the first half when Hibriten sweeper Emily Carter collided with a Hickory's Bethany Myer near midfield. Carter had to leave the game and get approximately 10 stitches on her head above her left eye, while Myer had to be helped off the field, also with a possible head injury.

“(Carter) plays every play hard and goes 100 percent and sometimes when you have two girls like that, something's got to give,” Bridges said.

Carter returned to the stadium following the game to find out how her teammates did without her.

“She impressed me with that,” he said. “To her credit, she wanted to come back in and play. It just shows how much heart she has.”'

Bridges adjusted his lineup and moved Lauren Crouse from outside midfielder to sweeper to fill in for Carter.

“She really stepped it up,” Bridges said. “I can put her anywhere on the field and feel comfortable.”

Hickory broke through with 20 minutes to go in the second half when Mindy Young controlled a deflected ball and angled it past Panther keeper Victoria Hedrick.

Hedrick had nine saves against Hickory's 13 shots.

“Victoria showed up tonight and played a good game in goal,” Bridges said.

Hibriten managed just four shots, but did have five corners to Hickory's two. The Panthers came closest to scoring on a Kayla Stamey near miss and a Jenny McCrary shot that was just over the bar right before the half.

Now, the Panthers, who have lost to just three 2-A teams, will have some time to regroup. They will have a first-round bye, before hosting a second-round playoff game Saturday, May 10.

“These girls are really responding,” Bridges said. “I think we've really progressed into a nice team.”

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