Soccer: Heritage squads starting to find their stride

The Heritage Lady Generals took a 5-1 lead at intermission and went on to an 8-2 home victory over county rival LFO in a non-region match this past Thursday.

Brianna Smotherman had her second hat trick in her last two matches, giving her eight goals already on the season. Anna Boley and Caylee Carpenter each added two more goals to their season totals, while Austin Brookshire found the net once for Heritage, who improved to 3-1 overall with their third consecutive win.

Boley and Smotherman also had two assists on the night, while Carpenter, Sydney Rogers and Jillian Roberts added one each.

Alyssa Leverrett and Sydney Moss found the net for LFO (0-3) with Leverrett assisting on the Moss goal. Keeper Rebecca Leggett finished the night with 17 saves.

Heritage boys 4, LFO 2

In the boys’ match, the Generals led 3-2 at halftime and went on to move to 3-0 on the year.

Jameson Wright scored twice, while Denis Viars and Christian Sawyer each scored once. Sawyer’s tally came on a penalty kick, while keeper Josh Graves got the victory in net.

Bryan Castro and Armando Martinez both scored for the Warriors (0-2).

Heritage girls 6, Gilmer 1

Last Tuesday, Smotherman got her hat trick, while Boley, Carpenter and Hannah Colston each netted a goal in the Lady Generals’ first region win.

Boley, Brookshire and Ansley Peeler all had assists for Heritage.

Heritage boys 2, Gilmer 2

The Generals got two goals from Wright in regulation, but needed a penalty kick shootout to finally beat Gilmer Tuesday night in the Region 6-AAAA opener.

Heritage won the shootout, 4-1, behind kicks from Viars, Eli Darger, Ethan Demo and Josh Cook.

Heritage will be back at home on Tuesday to host Morris Innovative out of Dalton with the girls’ varsity match starting at 5 p.m. LFO will head to Ridgeland that same day for a pair of matches, also beginning at 5.