Bobcat soccer added two more wins to its tally.
Gilmer High hosted Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe last Tuesday and the Warriors were severely outmatched. The goal barrage started shortly after the match began and did not stop until the final second. GHS extended its five-goal halftime lead to a 7-1 victory.
GHS pressed high up the field and foiled the Warriors’ attack consistently and almost instantly. LFO had little time to operate when it managed to gain possession, which was tilted heavily in Gilmer’s favor, especially through 50 minutes when starters were in the game.
Offensively, Gilmer’s quick, crisp passes left LFO reeling. The Bobcats made use of long, accurate aerial passes down the wings to open the field and create more space for the Warriors to cover.
Gilmer was on the board four minutes into the game. Defender Carter Gearhart sent a 40-yard pass into the box from midfield. A Warrior got his foot on the ball, but sent it straight to Bobcat Keby Puac. He netted his first of three goals from the top of the box, 20 yards out.
Puac added his second goal 20 minutes later. This time he was in a dangerous position when he received a pass from Ronald Cuz along the right wing. Puac’s 10-yard goal gave GHS a 2-0 lead with 26:47 left in the half.
The Cats continued to press forward with shots by Puac, Cuz, Brayner Ortiz and Willian Ramirez and their efforts soon paid off. Cuz intercepted a lazy LFO pass on the right flank and after taking a dribble, he turned and passed to Puac, who was charging toward the left side of the goal. Puac beat the defender to the ball and calmly beat the goalkeeper from 10 yards out.
Gilmer took a 4-0 lead with five minutes left in the half. Ortiz collected a loose ball and blasted the ball into the net from 15 yards.
Ramirez’s cross from the left wing in the final minute found Ortiz at the far post, and he pelted the ball across the goal line from point-blank range.
Head Coach Taylor Johnstone told his starters at halftime that they had 10 more minutes before he made substitutions. With 25 seconds left on that guarantee, Puac scored a 10-yard goal after receiving a cross from Calvin Lian.
Leading 6-0, reserves took the field for the remainder of the match. Starting goalkeeper Landon Hamby was hardly tested. LFO only attempted five shots and one was on target. Henry Bautista replaced Hamby with 15 minutes left on the clock, and LFO scored 10 minutes later.
The Bobcats continued to attack aggressively and made a run at goal as the clock wound down. Bobcat Juan Alonzo’s foot met the ball right before the final buzzer for Gilmer’s seventh goal.
The Cats attended the Canton Cup at Creekview High School Friday and Saturday.
GHS defeated the host Grizzlies 3-1 to begin the event. Ortiz scored two goals and William Zarate netted the third. Versus Osborne, the Bobcats were defeated, 4-0.
Gilmer is 4-3 on the season and traveled to Dalton Academy at press deadline.