The Heritage Generals spoiled Gilmer High’s home soccer match to kick off region play.
GHS hosted Heritage last Thursday, and while the Bobcats had possession for the bulk of the match, they were shut out for the second time this season. HHS netted two goals in the first half and defended in the second for a 2-0 win.
The Bobcats maintained possession for 61 percent of the match. They fired 17 shots on the night and nine were on target. Eight shots were from inside the 18-yard box but Gilmer never breached the goal line.
The Generals got off 18 shots, and GHS goalkeeper Talyn Curtis was there to make nine saves. A Curtis goal kick with 10 minutes left in the first half was intercepted by HHS at midfield. Two quick passes followed, and a 15-yard shot put Heritage on the board.
Four minutes later, HHS tacked on a second goal. Following a GHS free kick from midfield, Heritage gained possession in its own box. The Generals barreled down field on a counter attack, and a perfectly-placed pass from the center of the field found a HHS forward on the left wing. After shaking a GHS defender, a 15-yard shot put the Bobcats in a two-goal hole.
Gilmer did earn some solid scoring opportunities, but shots by Brayner Ortiz, Liam Engel and Jorge Flores were saved.
The Cats continued to press forward in the second half. A pair of GHS free kicks from just outside the box were both thwarted by the Generals’ wall of defenders. With 22 minutes left in the game, two close-range Engel shots were deflected before a Flores’ shot was wide.
The Cats were unable to cash in on scoring opportunities but did earn a 1-0 win over Pickens Monday evening. Gilmer is 6-2 overall and continues its region schedule Friday at Calhoun at 7:30 p.m.