Box Score WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 28, 2022) - Senior forward Mackenzie Reed scored two goals in her last game as a Poet, leading Whittier to a 4-0 demolition of the rival Redlands Bulldogs.
Prior to the season finale match, Reed and five other seniors—Vanessa Martinez, Alexis Huff, Audrey Jeltema, Olivia Hamm and Michelle Abarca—were celebrated with an on-field ceremony that featured walkout songs and student-athletes' family members walking a pink carpet.
Reed described the night as "amazing."
"With all my friends and family in the stands, I really wanted to put on one last show for them," Reed said. "Getting two goals in the back of the net was just what I needed to happily hang up my cleats."
Reed scored all three of her goals of the season this week and finished with eight in her collegiate career.
The two-sport star, who is also an All-American as a track and field athlete, quickly opened the scoring in the fifth minute.
"Avery (Gonzalez) hit me a perfect through ball," Reed said. "I got to the ball, past the last defender, and took a shot. I hit the upper corner of the net perfectly, and everyone went wild! Getting a goal early on really set the tone for the rest of the game. After that goal, I already knew we had the game in the bag."
Reed scored her second goal of the match in the 64th minute on a play that looked similar to her go-ahead goal against CMS Wednesday. In each, the opposing goalie deflected a Poets shot on goal directly to Reed, who kicked the loose ball in the net.
"It was almost like deja vu," Reed said. "The ball ended up right in front of me. I looked up at the empty net again and used my laces to volley the ball into the back of the net. Getting two goals on my senior night and my very last collegiate game was so special. I am so glad everyone I loved got to watch and celebrate with me!"
Reed described the energy as "amazing" and said she "couldn't imagine a better way to end (her) soccer career."
Layla Traylor who also scored in the match and, like Reed has three goals this week, spoke about Reed's contributions Friday and throughout the 2022 campaign.
"She was a huge game changer tonight and has made a huge impact on the team this season from her speed to her hard work and always having a positive attitude that makes you want to keep your head in the game," Traylor said.
Traylor's goal came in the 35th minute and gave the Poets a 3-0 lead. She paces Whittier in the category with seven, which ties her with two others for the conference lead.
"I made eye contact with 'Lani' (Alanis Cervantes), and she played me a beautiful through ball that I was able to control," Traylor said. "Then I banged it in with my left outside of the 18."
The other goal was scored by Gonzalez, who also had two assists in the contest. Gonzalez and Traylor are tied for the conference lead in assists with four apiece.
Poets goalkeeper Beth Juarez saw action for the first time this season and did not encounter a shot on goal in three minutes. The starting goalie Martinez played all but three minutes of the season, finishing the year with eight wins, seven shutouts and a SCIAC-leading 82 saves.
Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!
