The Gilmer High Lady Cats were able to take the field for a home soccer match and made the most of it.
While it was still cold and rainy last Wednesday, it was a departure from torrential downpours that had forced so many cancellations. GHS hosted North Murray and scored early and often. The Cats tallied all of their goals in the first half for a 5-1 victory.
“It was nice to finally play a varsity home game,” coach April Nicholson said. “The weather has been wreaking havoc on our season thus far. I thought our midfield and forward attack did a stellar job playing the ball on their third of the field. Naomi Coombs, Ashley Spagnola, Olivia Lykins, Cat Tercero, Laura Tercero and Abriana McCollum worked the ball up to put something like 14 shots on target.”
Coombs played a role in all five goals. She scored two and totaled three assists. Lykins netted one goal on the day to go with two assists.
GHS scored in the sixth minute when Coombs fired a shot from the right side that clanked off the left post and into the net. The Cats continued to push forward, but North Murray was able to even the score moments later following a throw in.
The tie would be short-lived. After Coombs shook a defender on the right flank, her cross was met by Laura Tercero for a close-range goal. With 26:27 on the clock, Coombs sent a cross in from the left side this time, which eventually found Spagnola for a 3-1 lead.
Fifteen minutes later, it was Lykins who shielded the ball from a defender before she was able to get loose inside the box from the left edge. Her pass to Coombs resulted in Gilmer’s fourth goal from 15 yards out.
Three minutes later, GHS made it 5-1. Lykins corralled Coombs’ corner kick right in front of the goal and scored a half volley.
Nether team scored in the second half. GHS continued to press forward, but was not rewarded with anymore goals.
“North Murray has always offered us really even competition, so I think the girls stepped up,” said Nicholson.
“North Murray had a couple of really good opportunities, but our back four and keeper, Raegan Dempsey, held them to one goal early in the game.”
Gilmer ended the week Friday at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe. After GHS took a 3-1 halftime lead, the high-scoring game was knotted at 4-4 at the end of regulation. Because it was a nonregion match, overtime was not played.
Coombs scored all four goals for the Cats, who were without goalkeeper Dempsey. Nicholson rotated multiple players in net over the course of the game.
Gilmer has a 1-2-1 overall record and begins region play Friday at Ridgeland with kickoff scheduled for 5:30 p.m.