Prep Soccer Report: Heritage girls open season with two wins
The Heritage Lady Generals opened their 2019 soccer season last week with two victories in their first three matches.
Heritage girls 2, Cass 1
Last Tuesday in Boynton, Lauren Gray got the Lady Generals on the board first at the 29-minute mark of the opening half. Normally a defender, Gray pushed up to the offensive end of the pitch to help provide support on a Heritage corner kick. A Cass player attempted to clear the ball away, but Gray intercepted the ball and sent a shot bouncing past the Lady Colonels keeper to give Heritage the lead.
Cass would answer with a tally 13 minutes before halftime and the score would stay 1-1 into halftime.
But at the 14-minute mark of the second half, Cass fouled Mckenna Bialecke and Sophie Roberts hammered home the direct free kick to put the Lady Generals back in front. Keeper Lexi Besh would come up with 12 saves to help seal the victory for the home team.
Heritage girls 3, Woodland 1
In Cartersville on Thursday, Anna Boley got the first goal for Heritage in the 19th minute off an assist from Lucy Hicks. Eight minutes later, Boley made it 2-0 following a feed from Roberts and a direct free kick by Roberts in the second half added to the Heritage advantage.
Besh had four saves for the Lady Generals.
N. Paulding girls 5, Heritage 1
Besh had 13 saves for the Lady Generals, while the lone Heritage goal was scored by Boley off an assist by Roberts.
Woodland boys 5, Heritage 2
Josh Cook and Caeden Stafford found the net for the Generals in Thursday’s road loss. Results of the Generals’ matches against Cass and North Paulding had not been provided as of press time.
Gilmer girls 2, LFO 0
The LFO Lady Warriors kicked off its new season last Monday with a loss in Ellijay.
The match was scoreless at halftime before the Lady Bobcats were able to knock in two tallies in the second half, one coming on a penalty kick in the five minutes.
Becca Leggett had 10 saves in net for LFO (0-1) in the loss.
Gilmer boys 4, LFO 1
The Warriors also dropped to 0-1 in the nightcap. Junior Israel Galicia scored the lone tally for LFO.
Ridgeland girls 1, Chattooga 1
Kaitlyn Durham converted on a penalty kick after being brought down in the box in the 62nd minute.
However, the Lady Indians would salvage the tie in the 76th minute as they knocked home a rebound after an initial save by Ridgeland keeper Riley Mcbee.
Mcbee had 19 saves in last Tuesday’s match, while Macie Boren, Marina Mosgrove, Katie Davie, Anna Jenkins, Jade Ransom, Angelica Crowe and Michelle Thomason all had shots on goal for the Lady Panthers.
Coahulla Creek girls 3, Ridgeland 0
The Lady Panthers fell to 0-1-1 on the season with the home loss on Thursday. No further details had been provided as of press time.
Ridgeland boys 2, Chattooga 0
The Panthers controlled the ball for the majority of last Tuesday’s game, but could not break through until the final 10 minutes of the match when Lucas Bautista and Denilson Bautista were both able to find the back of the net.
Head coach Tim Sparks said Juan Valazquez and Cesar Pichardo had solid games in the midfield, while new keeper Stephon Walker shined in net for the Panthers.
Coahulla Creek boys 7, Ridgeland 1
The Colts led 2-0 at halftime and enjoyed a 3-1 lead midway through the second half, but Ridgeland would run out of gas late.
Conner Middleton scored his first goal of the season on a free kick from approximately 30 yards out, while Walker had 12 saves in net for the Panthers (1-1).
Lafayette boys 1, Model 1
After a scoreless first half in Lafayette on Thursday, the Blue Devils broke the deadlock in the 50th minute. However, with approximately 12 minutes remaining in the match, Brodie Leiser found the net on a corner kick to score the equalizer for home team.
Lafayette (0-0-1) outshot Model, 20-7 on the night and 13-2 in the second half. Beau Thrash had three big saves in net for the Ramblers.
Lafayette girls 1, Model 1
The Lady Ramblers and Lady Devils also fought to a draw. Lafayette (0-0-1) took a 1-0 lead in the first half as senior Darsey Shields scored off of a corner kick by fellow senior Bailey Tarvin. However, Model would find the net in the second half to tie the match.
Sophomore Railee Lynn recorded 13 saves for the Lady Ramblers, while sophomores Gracie Hess and Bailey Myers, juniors Megan Wilson and Caitlyn Watson and senior Ashton Stalling provided assistance on defense.
Freshman Zoe Haggard, sophomores Imani Cook and Halle Alexander, juniors Wilson and Kailee Queen, along with Tarvin and Shields, combined for 15 shots on goal.
Lafayette boys 4, Trion 0 (JV)
The Lafayette High School boys’ junior varsity soccer team hosted Trion in its season-opener last Monday and began the season with a shutout.
Jordan Capello opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Haidon Pickard added a goal in the 25th and Capello would find the net again just before halftime off an assist from Parker Lively. Daniel Lopez would add a chip-shot goal in the second half.
Head coach Chase Horne praised Carter Golden, Austin Deering and Brodie Leiser for their defensive efforts, while Devin Henderson earned a clean sheet in goal for the Ramblers.