WYTHEVILLE — George Wythe Maroons soccer player Ava Ferguson loves to fool defenders with bold spin moves and clever ballhandling.
On Monday, the 5-foot-1 senior executed another trick.
“I was trying to make a crossing pass, and the ball just went into the net. I didn’t plan that, but I’ll take it,” Ferguson said.
That unique 25-yard sequence turned out to be the biggest goal in school history as the GW Maroons posted a 1-0 win over the Bland County Bears in the VHSL Class 1 girls soccer quarterfinals.
George Wythe's Ava Ferguson dribbles toward the goal as Bland County's Arwen Morehead defends during the VHSL Class 1 State Quarterfinals.
GW (13-4-2) will face the winner of the West Point-Mathews match on Friday afternoon at 3 in Salem.
Monday’s conquest was the latest step for a GW program has become more high profile each season.
The 2025 cast features a blend of aggressive and fit athletes who have experience in other sports.
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“We’ve been building for this,” third-year GW coach Nathan Cline said. “A lot of these girls have been starting for two or three years, so they have experience in big games.”
George Wythe's Ava Ferguson dribbles the ball during the VHSL Class 1 State Quarterfinals against Bland County on Monday evening.
GW dropped a 2-1 decision to Honaker in the 2024 state quarterfinals.
“This was a great day for our current players, our younger players and for our fans,’’ Cline said.
Most of the GW players were introduced to soccer at the rec league level, but Ferguson got her start in travel soccer around age four with a Radford-based squad.
“I’ve also competed in track, basketball and volleyball,” Ferguson said. “Our entire team is well-rounded and that helps in matches like we had today.”
George Wythe's Katie Repass clears the ball over Bland County's Juliet Yoder.
With multi-sport standouts such as seniors Abby Berry and Hannah Repass controlling the ball, the Maroons kept pressure on Bland and checked every run.
The goal for Ferguson came with 5:08 left in the first half.
“When you have athletes in soccer, sometimes the lean on their athleticism when they need to learn the fundamentals, formations and techniques first,” Cline said.
“Our team is very shot-happy, but we’re hit or miss. In one match this season, we put up 30 shots and had just one goal.”
Bland County's Juliet Yoder dribble down the field as George Wythe's Abby Berry defends
Cline said he enjoyed watching the fearless Ferguson operate.
“Ava can go left and right, and she can use either leg,” Cline said. “Ava was playing in the midfield earlier this season, but she can be effective all over. That goal tonight was pretty.”
Bland coach Joseph Shirey said he had no regrets in the loss.
“I think this was the best played we’ve played all season and I’m very proud of the girls,” Shirey said. “This is not the most talented team I’ve ever coached, but the players give all-out effort every second.”
George Wythe's Addy Courtney celebrates to the bench after their 1-0 win over Bland County in the VHSL Class 1 State Quarterfinals on Monday.
Shirley said the Bears have never posted a winning record since the program was formed 11 years ago.
Bland (7-10) had four seniors on the 2025 roster.
“George Wythe has one heck of a team, and they are one of my favorites to win state,” Shirey said. “There was nothing we could have done to prevent that goal today. It was a just great shot.”
Cline can rely on 10 seniors, but some have only been on the varsity for just two years.
George Wythe's Halen Perkins clears the ball against Bland County on Monday evening.
The GW soccer team must share athletes with the track and field and softball squads. GW lost to Eastside in Monday’s Class 1 softball quarterfinal in Wise.
“We have two girls on this year’s team who play basketball, and they missed our off-season workouts,” Cline said. “We brought a talented eighth grader up to junior varsity this season, and the future of our program looks great. We just have to keep putting things together.”
Cline said it was challenging to have a Wytheville based travel soccer operation since they are so many established programs in surrounding areas like Blacksburg, Radford, Johnson City and Winston-Salem.
After competing in a variety of sports at GW, Cline played two years of soccer at Wytheville Community College.
Bland County's Ella Miller gets the first touch after a free kick ahead of George Wythe's Abby Berry.
“We’re excited for the next step in the program at Salem. The girls are ready to roll,” Cline said.
As for Ferguson, she’s eager to test her expansive game on a bigger stage in Salem.
“I was nervous coming into this season, and I’ve been nervous in very match,” Ferguson said. “This win today will help all our players with confidence. It’s a fun time.”
