On a cold and rainy Friday, the Redhawks soccer teams take on Lebanon Trail, with the boys playing away, while the girls hang back at the Nest.
For the boys Friday’s game is more than just a game, it has a deeper meaning with a long history.
“It’s called the Donkey Darby,” head coach Evan McGee said. “The relationship between [the] previous coaches [at Liberty], they used to both coach together, so when [one coach] went and started Lebanon Trail, they were good pals and they created this Donkey Darby. They had a trophy that kind of goes back and forth [with] whoever wins.”
Not only will a win correlate to a trophy, but a win is needed for the Redhawks to have a chance at playoffs.
“It is a little bit of a rival and it’s an important game too for us for the playoffs,” Mcgee said. “Basically if we win both games, Friday and Tuesday after spring break, then we have a very good chance of making it, but not 100% guaranteed.”
Even though not for a trophy nor a playoff chance, Friday’s game is just as important to the girls. Achieving their first win of the season just Tuesday, the team hopes to build a winning streak to finish out their season.
“We scored pretty early on in the game, so defensively we did good keeping that lead the whole [of Tuesday’s] game,” sophomore Caitlyn Rubback said. “In order to get a win again today, we need to stay positive and not let our opponent bring us down.”
