The Gilmer Lady Cats continued their region soccer slate last week versus the Cherokee Bluff Bears.
GHS made the trip to CBHS Wednesday, and a strong second half allowed the hometown Bears to come away with a win. Cherokee Bluff totaled three goals over the game’s final 20 minutes to secure a 5-2 victory.
“The girls played the best game of the season, and I’m very proud of them,” said GHS head coach April Nicholson. “We were tied with one of the top teams in our region for 70 minutes. The girls all expressed how proud they were of their game play because they knew they had gotten better, and they all knew they played well.”
Nicholson opted for a defensive-minded formation as they deployed a 4-4-2.
“That is more defensive than what we usually run. We came out fast and ready to play, and I don’t think Cherokee Bluff was expecting a ballgame,” Nicholson noted.
The Bears broke through at the midpoint of the first half for their first lead of the game.
Lady Cat Yesica Tercero was then fouled inside the box. Senior Olivia Lykins took the penalty to even the score at 1-1, which is what it remained at the half.
CBHS quickly regained the lead in the match’s 51st minute. However, Tercero was there for GHS once again. This time she sent the ball into the net to tie the game at 2-all.
With 20 minutes left on the clock, Gilmer surrendered an own goal. The Bears tacked on a pair of insurance goals over the remainder of the game to cement their victory.
GHS is 2-5 overall and traveled to Pickens at press deadline.