Strong opening starts continue for Ridgeland soccer
One of the best starts for the Ridgeland Panthers in a number of years continued last week as the Blackand-white entered the new week still unbeaten at 5-01 on the season.
Ridgeland boys 4, Dade County 2
The Panthers’ fourth win came last Monday. Myers Tucker got Ridgeland on the board first with a goal 10 minutes into the match off an assist from Alan Martinez and the score would stay 1-0 going into halftime.
The Wolverines had an “own goal” early in the second half to make it 2-0 Panthers, but the Wolverines would score on a 53rd minute penalty kick to cut Ridgeland’s lead in half. However, Michael O’neal would find the net in the 59th minute and a final tally by Tucker five minutes later would seal the deal.
Ridgeland boys 1, Ringgold 1
Last Tuesday’s match saw Tucker score on a penalty kick midway through the first half to give him eight for the season.
Seth Chadwick scored for the Tigers with about seven minutes left to tie things up, while Jacob Sparks had 15 saves for Ringgold.
Ridgeland boys 5, Christian Heritage 2
The Panthers capped the week with another home victory on Thursday. Individual scoring had not been reported as of press time.
Ridgeland girls 0, Dade County 0
Riley Mcbee stopped six shots and Jade Ransom earned Player of the Match honors from the coaches after a goalline clearance in the second minute of the match saved a would-be Lady Wolverine goal in a water-logged draw.
Kaitlyn Durham, Katieann Thompson and Annabelle Casto had shots on target, while Anna Jenkins and Aiyana Cummings also had shots during the night.
Ridgeland girls 1, Ringgold 1
The Ridgeland Lady Panthers extended its own unbeaten streak after drawing with the Lady Tigers.
Ringgold, seeing its first action of the year, got on the board late in the first half as Joanna Medlin found the back of the net in the 38th minute. It was the first goal allowed by Ridgeland all season long, ending a shutout streak at 358 minutes.
However, the Lady Panthers got the game-tying tally in the 53rd minute as Angelica Crowe scored her first goal of 2020.
Jenkins, Thompson and Anastasia Burkhart had shots on goal for Ridgeland, while Mcbee made five saves in net. Crowe and defender Emalee Harris were named as the Lady Panthers’ Co-players of the Match for their efforts.
Christian Heritage girls 3, Ridgeland 2
Thursday’s opener saw the Lady Panthers suffer their first setback of the season.
Thompson scored off an assist from Burkhart in the 18th minute, but the Lady Lions would get a goal on a long shot in the 38th minute that found its way inside the post. Then, just before the halftime whistle, Christian Heritage was able to score on a free kick as they took a 2-1 lead into intermission.
Each team received a penalty kick in the second half.
Crowe took the shot for Ridgeland in the 60th minute, but Crowe’s low, hard strike was stopped by the Christian Heritage keeper. Eight minutes later, the Lady Lions were able to get their shot through to make it 3-1.
The Lady Panthers continued the pressure in the final 12 minutes and were rewarded with a goal by Casto goal in the 74th minute. However, tired legs from three games in four days would take its toll as Ridgeland’s season-opening unbeaten streak came to an end at five matches.
Mcbee had two saves in goal, while Crowe, Burkhart and Jenkins had shots on goal for Ridgeland (2-1-3).
Heritage girls 11, Morris Innovative 0
The Lady Generals were forced to move their match to the turf at Ringgold High School on Wednesday due to unplayable field conditions on their own pitch and they made quick work of the Lady
Tigers from Dalton in match that was stopped at halftime.
Brooke Fairchild had four goals for Heritage (2-0-1). Molly Cason finished with a hat trick and one assist. Anna Boley scored twice and collected an assist. Mckenna Bialecke and Ansley Peeler both had a goal and an assist, while Allison Craft also recorded one assist.
In boys’ action, Heritage had to settle for back-to-back ties on Wednesday and Thursday and is now 0-0-3 on the season. The Generals played Morris Innovative to a 2-2 tie before a 1-1 tie with Trion a night later.
Individual scoring had not been reported as of press time.
Ringgold swept at home
The Lady Tigers got goals from Medlin and Taylor Layne on Thursday, but fell to 0-11 with a 3-2 loss to Coahulla Creek in their home debut. The Tigers also lost to the Colts in the nightcap by a score of 8-0 as they dropped to 0-1-1 on the season.
Lafayette boys 3, LFO 1
The Ramblers got their second win of the season and their first home win of the year with a victory over LFO on Thursday.
The two teams went into halftime tied 1-1. Julian Murray found the net for the Ramblers, while Stiven Galicia booted home a goal for the Warriors.
Murray’s second tally of the night extended Lafayette’s lead in the second half, while Ethan Kennedy scored on a header off a Murray assist to account for the third and final goal.
Hayden Rainwater finished with seven saves for the Orange-and-black, while Lake Johnson came up with two stops for Lafayette.
LFO girls 3, Lafayette 0
In the girls’ match, Sydnee Brown, Emma Leverett and Ashley Henderson also scored as the Lady Warriors posted the road win.
Brown also collected two assists and Kaylee Gomez had one to help keeper Joanna Matute pick up the shutout in goal. Matute got help from defensive players Evyln Woody and Makenna Redmond, who were named as standouts.
Lafayette boys 3, Trion 2
The Ramblers added to their win total on Friday as they posted a home win against the Bulldogs. Lafayette (31) took an early 2-0 lead on goals by Murray and Karson Ledford, but Trion would respond with two unanswered tallies to knot the match.
However, with just four minutes remaining, a free kick by Murray found the head of Daniel Lopez, who knocked in the game-winner.
Lafayette girls 0, Trion 0
In girls’ action, the Lady Ramblers earned a scoreless draw and now sits at 0-2-1 on the season. No further details had been provided as of press time.
Gilmer boys 4, LFO 2
Cooper Kirk and Israel Galicia both found the net for the Warriors (0-3-1) on Friday night. However, the Warriors would drop the match to visiting Bobcats at Tommy Cash Stadium.
Results of the Lady Warriors’ match against Gilmer had not been reported as of press time.