Ava Moore shining for Benton girls' soccer; named Player of the Week
BENTON, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — Senior goalkeeper Ava Moore has been making quite the impact on Benton girls' soccer. What makes Moore such a powerhouse in the net is her fearless attitude.
'Under the intense pressure you have to trust your instincts,' explained Moore. 'If you're going to come out, you have to trust that it's the right decision and you go for it.'
'She is technically sound with her feet which is not something we've always had,' added Benton girls' soccer head coach Jesse Dyer. 'We can feel confident playing the ball to her. We can feel confident in the decisions that she's going to make with it.'
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Having someone as reliable as Moore at goalie strengths the trust between the entire Lady Tigers squad.
'That really helps the team as a whole,' added Coach Dyer. 'If you're worried about your goalkeeper, that lack of confidence can lead to instability everywhere on the field.'
The third-year starter has become a leader for the Lady Tigers both on and off the field. One memory sticks out among the rest during Moore's time at Benton.
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'The Byrd game my junior year,' recalled Moore. 'We tied Byrd for the first time ever and I think that as a team we just collectively and emotionally had a great game.'
'Part of it was Ava,' explained Coach Dyer. 'It's the reason she got first district all-team goalkeeper.'
Moore has been learning underneath Coach Dyer for about 5 years now.
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Not only has her relationship with him grown stronger, but the senior has had a front row seat watching Benton Girl's Soccer evolving underneath Coach Dyer.
'To see what Dyer has done with the program and to be on such a long undefeated streak,' started Moore. 'It's really nice to see. I think we have evolved as a team and as a program.'
'We've had a great season,' Coach Dyer said. 'We've done things that Benton soccer has never done. That is just a testament to (Ava's) growth, but also the entire team's growth as they've come through the program.'
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Moore will now be eligible for the Landers Dodge Player of the Year award, which comes with a $2,500 scholarship. The Player of the Year Banquet will be held in May 2025.
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