Just like sister: Avery Walbruch’s golden goal lifts American Fork past Mountain View 1-0
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- American Fork’s starting lineup versus Mountain View
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- Just a freshman, Avery Walbruch was a standout for American Fork in its 1-0 win over Mountain View
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- American Fork’s Anne Clark attempts a shot in the Cavemen’s 1-0 win over Mountain View
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- American Fork goalkeeper Taybree Hansen
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- American Fork’s Ambri Brown
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- American Fork’s Anne Clark leaps over the Mountain View goalkeeper
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- American Fork’s Avery Walbruch scored the first goal for her team this season
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- American Fork’s Anne Clark battles for the ball in her team’s 1-0 win over Mountain View
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- American Fork forward Avery Walbruch fights for the ball during her team’s 1-0 win over Mountain View
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- American Fork’s Ambri Brown
American Fork's starting lineup versus Mountain View
Ellie Walbruch did it all during her prep career before moving on to star for UCLA and then BYU at the collegiate level, and if Thursday’s 1-0 Caveman win over Mountain View is any indication, her younger sister may be serving up similar accomplishments.
Only a freshman, Avery Walbruch scored American Fork’s lone goal in the first overtime period to defeat the Bruins in what was just the second match of the season. About midway through the first overtime period, Avery Walbruch deftly placed the ball into the upper far corner of the back of the net for the well-earned victory, which was followed by a hearty celebration from the entire team.
“It was incredible to watch that go in and have that happen,” Avery Walbruch said. “I didn’t think it would go in, at first, but when it did I was in complete shock. It was an amazing feeling and I’m so happy to be able to do it for my team.”
Perhaps the only real surprising thing about Avery Walbruch’s goal is that it proved the only goal scored throughout a match where the Cavemen dominated possession. Time and again attempts where made at the goal for the match’s first 80 minutes, with the Cavemen keeping on relentless pressure without providing results.
John S. McKinney
Just a freshman, Avery Walbruch was a standout for American Fork in its 1-0 win over Mountain View
“Soccer can be the most frustrating sport,” said American Fork Assistant Coach Zoe Jacobs, who took the coaching reigns during Thursday’s match due to American Fork Head Coach Tara Warner undergoing surgery. “You can limit all kinds of scoring opportunities defensively, and then control possession throughout a match and then come up empty. But this is a great learning experience for our team because we kept pushing through and finally got one into the back of the net at the end.”
It’s the type of play one could expect from American Fork’s talented, but relatively inexperienced team this season, at least initially.
“We really do have a ton of talented players this year,” Jacobs said. “We’re talented individually, but what we’re working on is getting all of that talent to work together, and play together as a team. We think we’re a team that creates a lot of opportunities. We’re a possession-based team, but the improvement for us needs to come in the final third (of the soccer pitch) in scoring goals and creating more easy opportunities.”
A lot of the opportunities created in Thursday’s win were due to a stellar defensive effort, led by the play of goalkeeper Taybree Hansen, who recorded several notable saves.
“I was very happy with our effort defensively,” Jacobs said. “We eliminated a lot of their chances and it allowed the offense to create a lot of opportunities. But again, the next step is coming through more with opportunities we had, but tonight was a great start against a good Mountain View team.”
John S. McKinney
American Fork's Anne Clark attempts a shot in the Cavemen's 1-0 win over Mountain View
As for Avery Walbruch, Jacobs is expecting big things from her this season.
“She’s only a freshman, but she’s super-talented and she’s going to a huge help for us this season and in the future,” Jacobs said. “We have a lot of talented young players that are just learning how to play with each other along with some really good upperclassmen. We really like the potential of this team.”
Although Mountain View is one of the better 4A soccer teams, Jacobs knows tougher tests lay ahead as her team prepares for elevated play in Region 3 competition.
“Our region is so tough, so finding our identity before we begin region play is very important,” Jacobs said. “We’re so young, as a team, so we need to learn to come together and figure things out. We’re right there with them as a coaching staff because this is our first year, too, but we like our potential and like where we’re headed. We just need to get the kinks out before taking on all those great teams in our region.”
As for Avery Walbruch, she’ll take what she experienced during Thursday’s match and apply it for the rest of the season and for the rest of her prep career.
John S. McKinney
American Fork goalkeeper Taybree Hansen
“Things can get frustrating, but you just have to push through it,” she concluded. “Fortunately we all worked together and were able to come out on top in the end.”
American Fork's Ambri Brown
American Fork's Anne Clark leaps over the Mountain View goalkeeper
American Fork's Avery Walbruch scored the first goal for her team this season
American Fork's Anne Clark battles for the ball in her team's 1-0 win over Mountain View
American Fork forward Avery Walbruch fights for the ball during her team's 1-0 win over Mountain View
American Fork's Ambri Brown
