No. 4 Seaforth’s 12-0 win over No. 29 Granville Central in the first round of the 2A girls’ soccer state playoffs can be best described as the Sofia Viana and Caitlin Erman show.
Viana and Erman scored six goals each Monday night, both breaking their previous single-game goals records of five. All of their goals were scored in the first half as the game ended at halftime due to the mercy rule.
“I’ve been coaching for 26 years, (and) they’re the best striking partnership I’ve ever had,” Seaforth head coach Giovanni Viana said. “I think they’re the best in the state.”
Erman, a junior striker, scored five goals in one game all the way back in her freshman year. For Viana, a sophomore, it happened just over two weeks ago when the Hawks beat North Moore, 9-0, on April 29.
Viana broke her own record just as quickly as she scored the first goal for Seaforth against Granville Central. Just one minute and 20 seconds into the game, sophomore Regan Willauer, leading the charge near the goal, passed the ball to the right, hitting Viana in stride for a close-range shot to the back right corner.
Seven minutes later, Viana took a pass from freshman Elizabeth Platt in the middle of the attacking third and used a dribble move to find an opening and hit under the top of the net, putting Seaforth up 2-0.
Her hat trick came with just under 26 minutes remaining in the first half when a Granville Central player kicked the ball right to Viana who was just yards away from the goal.
About 25 seconds later, Erman got in on the action, too, pushing the lead to 4-0 with her first goal of the night.
After Viana put in two more goals between the 17 and 14 minute marks, Erman ripped off four straight scores with help from her ability to outrun defenses and put pressure on the goalkeeper.
Erman said she didn’t really think about how many goals she was scoring because scoring as many as she could wasn’t exactly the motive, even if it is the goal.
“It was mostly about being more selfless,” Erman said. “The goals come easier (when you’re making the right decision), instead of just taking everything on yourself.”
The two even made a connection with just over 6 minutes left in the first half when Erman assisted on Viana’s sixth and record-breaking goal.
“I just love playing with Caitlin because we just know each other so well,” Viana said. “It’s not like I want to score this many goals. We just know where each other is going to be.”
Erman finished the game off with her sixth and final goal with about four and a half minutes to play in the first half.
With the win, Seaforth will advance to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in program history. The Hawks will host No. 20 Beddingfield, a team that went 7-7 in the regular season and 5-5 in conference play, in their next game.
Viana and Erman said the keys to continuing their playoff run, especially when competition gets tougher, are to start fast, listen to Coach Viana’s advice and play to their strengths.
“Don’t really worry about the other team and how good or bad they are,” Erman said. “Play the game that we play.”
