The Gilmer High Bobcats went on a scoring spree last week and still had goals to spare.
GHS hosted a pair of region soccer foes and snatched two more wins. The Bobcats met Dawson County Wednesday and sent the Tigers home with a sound 6-2 loss.
North Hall came calling Friday, and the Trojans were outmatched from the opening kickoff. GHS netted three first half goals and added two more in the second for a 5-0 victory.
The Bobcats came out versus Dawson with scoring on their mind. The Tigers defeated GHS last season for their only region win.
“Dawson beat us last year at their place 1-0 and we wanted revenge badly. We came out in a slightly more aggressive formation than normal, and the plan was to pressure early and try to score goals quickly,” head coach Simon Phipps said.
“Our record shows that we have not scored a lot of goals in the region, nor have we conceded many. This has its positive side, but for goal difference, which may become important, we need to put some goals in the back of the net.”
Melvin Oxlaj scored Gilmer’s first goal when he gathered a loose ball right in front of the net after less than four minutes of play. Three minutes later, GHS goalkeeper Talyn Curtis assisted a goal. His booming punt was aided by the wind, and teammate Nick Dean was there to head the ball over the Tiger goalkeeper.
Oxlaj scored again with 22 minutes left in the half. He sent a shot from the left side into the bottom right corner of the net. GHS added a final goal in the half off a 20-yard curling shot by Alex Lopez that was tucked into the top right corner.
In less than 10 minutes of play into the second half, Julien Withrow picked his way through Dawson’s defense for a fifth goal.
GHS added one more goal, and Phipps noted, “It was probably the best team goal with some great interplay in midfield and a great final pass to find Connor Seim in space and a lovely finish from him.”
GHS nearly scored after 10 seconds of play versus North Hall, which set the tone for the game.
“We came out of the gate well and put pressure on the ball and their players to force mistakes,” Phipps said. “Just like Wednesday, the plan was to attack fast and try to score as early as possible. The boys understand what we want them to do, and they are seeing the results of their hard work in practice and their togetherness over the last four years.”
Gilmer’s midfielders constantly delivered passes to open forwards who took advantage for goals, and Oxlaj scored three. However, it was Marcos Alonzo who scored the opening goal when he blasted a 53-yard free kick over the goalkeeper’s head.
GHS led 1-0 after five minutes of play, and a second goal came 20 minutes later. Withrow’s well-paced pass led Oxlaj, who calmly finished for a 2-0 lead.
Gilmer’s third and final goal of the half came with 13:38 left on the clock. Alonzo blasted a 60-yard pass to Oxlaj down the left wing, and he popped the ball over the goalkeeper’s head and into the net for a 20-yard goal.
GHS kept its foot on the gas in the second half and made the score 4-0 after seven minutes of play. Gilmer was fouled in the box, and Oxlaj scored the penalty.
Withrow had a great individual effort with just under seven minutes to play. He outmaneuvered a pair of Trojan defenders with a slick back heel and for enough space to fire a shot from 37 yards out for Gilmer’s final goal.
“Julien was determined to score, and that goal of his was one of the best individual efforts I have seen all year from any player on any team,” Phipps praised.
The win improved GHS to 8-4-1 overall and 4-1 in region play. The Cats have secured their post season spot, and their seed will be determined as the final region games are played.
“We are hard to beat because we are difficult to play against,” Phipps said. “Taylor (Johnstone) and I have tried to install a more physically intimidating side to our game, and it seems to work, what we lack in talent we make up for in aggression and a never-say-die attitude.
“A huge shoutout goes to our freshman goalkeeper Talyn Curtis who is playing like a senior, with equal amounts of composure and skill, and our defense both at the back and in midfield, they are really the engine room that allows us to do the fancy scoring stuff.”
GHS traveled to Lumpkin at press deadline and hosts Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe Thursday at 7 p.m.