East Bladen Girls Soccer Bounces Back in Dominant Fashion

East Bladen Soccer team photo. Credit: Layne Ross.

Elizabethtown, NC - After a tough 8-0 loss to Trask last week, East Bladen’s girls soccer team responded the only way they know how—by stepping up and coming together.

The Lady Eagles rattled off three straight wins: a 6-1 bounce-back over South Columbus, a statement 2-0 revenge victory over Trask, and a commanding 9-0 result against West Columbus.

Now 9-1-1 overall and 7-1 in conference play, East Bladen has full control of its destiny for a top seed in the 1A East playoff race.

“What we saw this week was a group that truly understands each other now,” said Head Coach Jay Raynor. “The Trask loss forced us to reflect—not just the players, but us as coaches too. We took what we learned and responded in a big way.”

East Bladen’s 9-0 win over West Columbus was a showcase of just how far the team has come. Seven different players found the back of the net, with every player on the roster seeing action.

Senior Jackie Medina-Leal wasted no time setting the tone, scoring just 23 seconds into the match. She added a second goal in the 13th minute and later assisted on a goal, proving once again why she’s one of East Bladen’s most dangerous weapons up top.

Macey Potter had a brilliant performance, scoring twice in the 7th and 12th minutes. Medina-Leal assisted on the second of Potter’s goals, highlighting the chemistry developing between the two as East Bladen’s attack sharpens late in the season.

Gabriela Rebollar calmly buried a penalty kick in the 3rd minute and also notched an assist. Her ability to control the midfield and create chances continues to be a key factor in the team’s success.

NeNe Ward turned in a standout performance of her own, finishing a goal in the 15th minute and assisting another. Her speed and decision-making made her a constant threat throughout the night.

East Bladen moved Anna Miranda into the central attacking midfield role for the match, and she delivered with a beautiful 15-yard strike in the 23rd minute. Her vision and leadership helped anchor the team’s shape and tempo, especially as they began rotating players in.

Isabella Beard converted a penalty kick in the 26th minute, slotting the ball into the upper right corner with confidence. It was a clinical finish and further proof of the team’s depth and poise under pressure.

The loudest celebration of the evening came in the 29th minute when freshman Kayelynn Chambers scored her first varsity goal. As Chambers celebrated, the sideline erupted—especially the starters, who cheered her on louder than anyone.

“Our starters were on the sideline, yelling and cheering like crazy when Kayelynn scored,” said Raynor. “That tells you all you need to know about this team—they care about each other’s success more than their own.”

Defensively, East Bladen was rock solid. Goalkeeper Aubri Nixon only had to make two saves, but both were timely and showed how far she’s come since the earlier Trask matchup.

In front of her, the defensive trio of Sana'a Singletary, Jaziyeah Daniels, and Abigail Miranda-Ventura locked things down. Their discipline and communication were key in maintaining the shutout.

The rematch against Trask was perhaps the most telling moment of the week. In their first meeting, Trask outshot East Bladen 22-8. On Friday, the Lady Eagles flipped the numbers—outshooting Trask 19-4 despite playing with just one forward.

That swing was no accident; it was the product of tactical discipline, mental toughness, and trust among teammates.

Coach Raynor credited returning players for leaning on their playoff experience from last season and guiding the younger girls through the ups and downs.

That leadership showed throughout the week, especially in the effort and execution from players like Kaelyn Eason, Kenley Parks, and Marlee Potter—each of whom stepped in and played meaningful minutes.

“Those who don’t typically see a lot of playing time really showcased their skills and understanding of our system, which is crucial for our development,” Raynor said. “Everyone got onto the field, and I was proud of how they each made the most of their minutes.”

Whether it was Michelle Quezada and Lynn Escobar Perez working tirelessly in midfield, Lexi Ventura and Annika Bass providing a spark off the bench, or Leanh McGill pushing the tempo in the second half, the depth of East Bladen’s roster continues to grow—and that could make all the difference as the postseason approaches.

“There’s still plenty to improve, but I’m really proud of how we responded,” Raynor said. “The girls are growing—not just as players, but as a team.”

East Bladen will host West Columbus again on Thursday night.

Roster: Michelle Quezada, Nevaeh Brown, Sana'a Singletary, Julia Flowers, Kayelynn Chambers, Abigail Miranda-Ventura, Jaziyeah Daniels, Mary Frances Sutton, Isabella Beard, Aubri Nixon, Lynn Escobar Perez, Kenley Parks, NeNe Ward, Jackie Medina-Leal, Leanh McGill, Gabriela Rebollar, Anna Miranda, Kaelyn Eason, Marlee Potter, Lexi Ventura, Macey Potter, Annika Bass.

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East Bladen Girls Soccer Bounces Back in Dominant Fashion