Gilmer High School delivered a pair of soccer shutouts to Fannin County.
GHS hosted the visiting Rebels last Tuesday, and the Lady Cats got the day rolling with a sound 4-0 thrashing.
The Bobcats maintained the theme of the night. They scored quickly and went on to possess the ball the majority of the game. Another goal late in the second half completed the Bobcats’ 2-0 win.
Yenifer Lopez’s four-goal performance continued her legacy as the program’s most prolific scorer.
Just over eight minutes into the game, Gilmer keeper Amayah Jones’ goal kick sent the ball to midfield to start a counter attack. Calli Wise split two defenders and tapped a leading pass to Lopez, who took two dribbles and calmly placed her right-footed shot inside the far post from 8 yards out.
Three minutes before the half, Sophia Lykins sent the ball inside the box from close range along the left flank. Lopez picked up the loose ball and scored from almost the same spot as her first goal.
Lopez added her third goal with 14:20 left in the game. A Lykins corner kick was not cleared by Fannin. Instead, the Rebels passed it right to Lopez, who met the ball with the outside of her right foot and sent it into the bottom right corner of the net.
GHS continued to press forward and earned another corner with 8:27 on the clock. Lykins sent the ball into the box once again. The ball eventually found Lopez, and she turned and fired a 10-yard shot across the face of the goalkeeper that hit the post and rolled across the line.
The Bobcats took a 1-0 lead in the game’s ninth minute with a spectacular goal from Brayner Ortiz. He received the ball on the right wing, 45 yards from the goal. After dribbling into free space and away from a FCHS defender, Ortiz blasted a 35-yard left-footed shot that flew right under the crossbar.
GHS maintained its lead and added a second goal in the final minutes of the game. Christian Ambrosio passed to freshman Eliseo Ramos in the right corner. He sent a centered pass into the box, which Liam Engel settled with his right foot before turning and squirting the ball with his left foot through the grasp of the goalkeeper.
“Coach Aaron Evans and I had some good talks with the boys about staying humble and playing with the same intensity for each game,” said head coach Taylor Johnstone.
“We knew this was going to be a challenge after beating Cherokee the Friday before. I feel that the boys responded well and executed our game plan. Our key focus was to maintain possession.”
GHS dominated with 60 percent possession. FCHS had 14 shots on the night, and senior goalkeeper Talyn Curtis made six saves.