White River Valley

The White River Valley Middle School boys' soccer team opened its season at home Monday, overcoming an early deficit with a dominant second-half performance to secure a 6-1 victory over a well-coached Barr-Reeve Vikings squad. Barr-Reeve controlled the early possession with crisp, connected passing that put the Wolverines on their heels. The pressure resulted in several corner kicks, and the Vikings capitalized when a perfectly struck ball curved directly into the far corner of the net, untouched, for a 1-0 lead. Shaking off the early goal, White River Valley showed its resilience. The Wolverines began challenging every ball, and their passing sharpened, leading to sustained pressure on the Vikings' defense. After several near misses, WRV broke through with 15 minutes left in the half. Miles Karr used his tremendous speed to beat a defender down the left side and slotted a powerful shot into the back of the net, evening the score at 1-1. Energized by the goal, the Wolverines continued to press. The effort paid off with six minutes remaining in the half when they earned a corner kick. The ensuing service was sent perfectly to the goal box, where Toby Harroll tracked it and headed the ball decisively past the keeper, giving WRV a 2-1 lead at the interval. After halftime, the Wolverines emerged as a different team. Two hard weeks of practice paid dividends as WRV played with relentless aggression and superior fitness despite the heat. While he didn't appear on the scoresheet, stopper Hank Harroll was a critical force, playing the entire game in the middle of the defense. His strength and speed consistently broke up the Vikings' attack, creating turnovers that sparked the Wolverine offense. Thirteen minutes into the second half, Ayden Fox found the net with a great finish to extend the lead to 3-1. The relentless pressure continued, leading to a flurry of goals in the final five minutes as Toby Harroll, Miles Karr, and Ayden Fox each scored their second of the match. The balanced attack, often resulting from quick ball movement and assists from Henry Linneweber, Fox, and Harroll, sealed the decisive win and allowed the team to get valuable playing time for its younger members. Next up: The WRV Boys travel to Shoals on Wednesday for a match with a 6:00 PM kickoff. Final Score: White River Valley 6, Barr-Reeve 1 WRV Scoring: Miles Karr (2 goals) Toby Harroll (2 goals, 1 assist) Ayden Fox (2 goals, 1 assist) Henry Linneweber (2 assists)