Puryear, Sealander All State

Just how pivotal was their play in the region quarter-final match against Wilson Memorial?

Madison County teammates and rising seniors Victoria “Tori” Puryear and Ashley Sealander attribute what happened in that overtime thriller to their selections to this year’s Group A All-State Girls Soccer team.

The match against Wilson Memorial was decided on penalty kicks and both Puryear, the team’s keeper, and Sealander, one of five players selected to take a penalty kick, did their part to make sure their team stayed in contention.

With kickers having a decisive advantage over goalies, Puryear still managed to turn back two shots to keep the team’s hopes alive, but it wasn’t enough as Sealander was the only teammate to connect and Wilson claimed a 3-1 advantage to win.

Though the loss to Wilson Memorial signaled the end of the season for the Mountaineer girls, individual accolades followed recently when the All-Group A Girls Soccer Team selections were announced.

Just like the match against Wilson Memorial, the names Puryear and Sealander surfaced to the forefront again.

Puryear received news she had been named to the first team and Sealander to the second team as the only two players from Madison County selected.
“I started crying when I heard the news,” said Puryear, the team’s all-star keeper. “I was speechless. I was really proud of being named.”

Sealander was in Farmville when news came her way.

“I was at the Virginia Girls State at Longwood College when (teammate) Mariah Crigler texted me and told me to call her dad (head coach Danny Crigler),” recalled Sealander. “I immediately called him and he told me I had been selected. I was so excited I didn’t know what to do. I was in disbelief.”

Puryear and Sealander predictably reacted humbly. Their teammates and rivals wouldn’t have been so surprised.

After all, both were named as first team selections for both the Bull Run District and Region B, and both had stellar performances throughout the season.
Puryear recorded 130 saves on the year and allowed just 1.55 goals per game.

Sealander led the team throughout the season in the assists department and finished with a team-best 21. She also scored five goals but, along with Crigler, stepped up to take the team’s corner kicks with that special knack of directing the shot to within firing range of her teammates.

“Working hard in the district brought me through to the region and state selections,” said Sealander. “The game against Wilson Memorial probably made a difference for both of us. I’m not surprised that Tori was selected. She had an outstanding season and did amazing things during the games. I’ve never seen a keeper play so aggressively.” Not surprisingly, Puryear returned the compliments.

“She’s a great leader and an even greater player,” said Puryear. “She’s always aggressive and she knows what she’s doing.”

Throughout the year Puryear defended the Madison goal and watched from a distance when Sealander launched her corner kicks with precision.
“I got excited every time I saw them,” said Puryear.

The rise to state prominence is the fruition of hard work and dedication that began at an early age.

“I started playing soccer when I was 5 or 6,” said Sealander. “I started taking the corner kicks when I was a freshman. I’ve always been able to cross (the ball).”

Puryear shares her affinity for soccer with another love: volleyball.

“Soccer has always been a family thing and I started playing it when I was in the first grade, but I also started playing volleyball during my freshman year,” she said. “I had been looking to go to college with the idea of playing volleyball but after this season in soccer I’d have to say that the two (sports) are pretty equal now.”

Whether it’s soccer, hockey, lacrosse or water polo, it takes a special person to play in goal where Puryear found her niche a few years ago.
“In youth sports, Bruce Parker (Madison’s assistant coach) rotated people in goal so that everyone could have their try playing it,” recalled Puryear. “As we grew older only a select few of us stayed there. I found goalie as my position because of my hand-eye coordination. I’ve always been a lot more comfortable (in goal rather than in the field).”

Standing six-feet-tall, Puryear knows that her height works as an advantage.

“The goal is 24 (feet long) by eight (feet high) and having good height is definitely an advantage. I’m able to reach the top of the goal usually flat-footed. As a goalie you have to read the opposing player as they approach the ball. That’s the hardest thing.”

Both Puryear and Sealander return next season in hopes that the team will surpass this year’s accomplishments.

“I see wonderful things happening next year,” said Puryear. “Our group of seniors is a group of players who have played together our whole lives and (coaches) Danny (Crigler) and Bruce (Parker) have been our coaches throughout.”

Sealander agrees.

“I’m really excited about next year. We’ll have just as strong of a team if not stronger next year, and we can make it to the states. For me, it’s about helping our team get there.”