The Gilmer High Lady Cats dismantled Chestatee.
GHS hosted the War Eagles last Tuesday for a nonregion soccer showdown, and Chestatee was outclassed immediately. Lady Cats were constantly left unmarked and when CHS managed to keep track of them, Gilmer’s skill and speed were put on display.
The Cats scored right after the opening whistle and they never looked back. The match was called early and CHS was sent home with a 10-0 loss.
The Cats needed just 1:16 to take the lead. Freshman midfielder Joei Marshall passed down the left flank to senior striker Yenifer Lopez, who was unmarked and had a free run at the goal from 30 yards out. A slide tackle by a War Eagle defender 3 yards from the goal sent the ball into the net.
GHS struck again less than five minutes into the game. A throw-in eventually found junior Gimena Domingo-Tercero, and she outran defenders down the right wing after gaining possession from 40 yards out. She tucked a 13-yard shot inside the near post for a 2-0 lead.
Near the midpoint of the half, Lopez evaded a slide tackle to give GHS another breakaway at the goal. She ran free for 20 yards and her 8-yard shot was saved. She corralled the rebound and her next attempt hit the near post. However, Domingo-Tercero was there for the tap in from point-blank range.
Chestatee defenders were napping again less than a minute later. Carly Becerra passed to an unmarked Domingo-Tercero, and she pelted a 10-yard left-footed shot inside the far post for a 4-0 lead with 20:52 left on the clock.
GHS continued to press forward over the remainder of the half but was unable to add any further goals to its tally.
The Cats did not need the entire 40 minutes of the second half to end the game. The hapless War Eagles felt the wrath of the Cats just 20 seconds into the second half. Lopez received a pass from Marshall off the kickoff. Lopez shook a defender before dashing toward the goal from 50 yards. She took the ball into the box and her cross found Angelica Castaneda at the far post, and she sent a header into the net from 3 yards out.
Just fewer than five minutes into the half, Marshall’s 18-yard shot ricocheted off the crossbar and to an awaiting Castaneda. Her volley from 8 yards made the score 6-0.
The Cats continued to run around Chestatee, and they soon cashed in a seventh goal. Marshall intercepted the ball just inside CHS territory and passed down the left wing. Castenada won possession and ran away from a War Eagle defender. Her cross was met by Lopez right in front of the goal for a 7-0 advantage with 26:41 on the clock.
Chestatee was out of position once again 13 minutes later. Marshall quickly took a free kick, and sent the ball 45 yards downfield. Domingo-Tercero got behind CHS defenders and beat the goalkeeper to the ball. Her 12-yard shot made the score 8-0.
With 8:19 on the clock, a 30-yard pass by Maggie Thompson was sent into the path of a charging Castaneda. She once again won possession, outpaced defenders and scored from 12 yards.
The match came to a merciful end 4:34 shy of regulation when Marshall blasted a 35-yard free kick. The CHS goalkeeper slid past the ball when attempting the save, and it was once again in the back of the net.
The shutout marked goalkeeper Amayah Jones and the Lady Cats’ sixth clean sheet of the season. GHS is 8-5 overall, and its final three matches are versus nonregion opponents. The Cats’ state playoff seeding will be determined by power rankings, and GHS is currently No. 23 in Class 3A.
Gilmer hosts Ringgold Monday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m.