Gallatin junior goalkeeper Abi Green has helped the Lady Wave to a 3-0 start this season.
The past three seasons have seen Gallatin’s girls soccer team end its season in the same manner – a first-round exit in the District 9-AAA Tournament.
Junior goalkeeper Abi Green hopes to change the narrative and put the Lady Wave back in the discussion for a region tournament spot.
Gallatin is off to a 3-0 start in large part to Green’s play, as she helped the Lady Wave win their district opener in penalty kicks against Portland on Aug. 23.
“That’s what we’re used to,” Gallatin head coach Greg Harper said. “She spoiled us last year. She hasn’t had the best training camp coming into (the season), but it’s there.”
The other two victories are also one-goal margins, against Merrol Hyde Magnet (2-1 victory on Aug. 25) and Smyrna (4-3 victory last Tuesday).
In that match against Merrol Hyde Magnet, Green made a diving save with one hand to take away a potential goal into an open net after she had came out to play an initial shot.
“She’s a very good keeper,” Merrol Hyde Magnet head coach Jason Bentley said. “She’s solid out of the air and she gets off her line well. I thought she made a couple of absolutely phenomenal saves. She’s solid, for sure.”
Green admitted that she wasn’t at 100 percent in the victory over Merrol Hyde Magnet, sporting a bag of ice on her right knee to nurse the residual effects of an offseason injury.
“She had a little knack of an injury with her knee during indoor soccer and I think that’s kind of hampered us a little bit,” Harper said.
Abi Green has one shutout so far this season and helped Gallatin to five consecutive shutouts last year.
Green added, “I dislocated my knee during the summer. (Last week), in practice, I partially re-dislocated it. It’s kind of hurting a little bit, but I’ll be fine.”
Green also started last season in goal as the Lady Wave rebounded from a 0-2-1 start to win seven consecutive matches with five straight shutouts during that time.
However, it still ended in a loss in the first round of the district tournament. To get past that, Harper said he wants to see more leadership from his goalkeeper.
“It doesn’t always have to be verbal. I’d rather see it by work and she’s proved what she can do when she’s in form and on her game.”
Green is a tougher goalkeeper to beat on crosses and corner kicks because of her aggressiveness, Harper said.
“If you’re going to cross it, that’s Abi’s strong suit,” Harper said. “She’s a big, tall girl and she’s going to come out and get it.”
A few tweaks have Green more confident this season, too.
“I really try and stay off my (goal) line,” Green said. “That was a habit of mine. When I’m off my line, I’m on my toes more and able to access the ball easier.”
Reach Chris Brooks at cbrooks@tennessean.com or at 615-575-7118. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @CB_SumnerSports, and on Snapchat @cbrooksgne.