The Gilmer Lady Cats were constantly on the attack and were rewarded with six goals.
GHS hosted the West Hall Spartans last Friday for a one-sided soccer match. The Lady Cats blasted 36 shots on the night and were in control from the start for a 6-0 win.
“Throughout the game, I thought our offensive attack was really solid,” said coach April Nicholson.
“We were able to get every girl some playing time in a meaningful game, and as a coach, you want to give your players as much gametime experience as possible. Because of weather and reschedules, we’ve lost several games, including JV games, so I was grateful that everyone got some meaningful minutes.”
It was a sign of things to come when Lady Cat Naomi Coombs flew down the right wing and fired a shot into the net. The goal was scored just minutes into the game, and the Spartans were on their heels throughout.
The Cats battered both posts six minutes into the game. The Spartan goalkeeper came off the line, and Lady Cat Olivia Lykins won possession 12 yards from the goal. Her open shot smacked the near post before Coombs collected the rebound and did the same. A minute later, Coombs’ free kick from 35 yards ricocheted off the crossbar.
The match continued with Gilmer pressing forward. The Cats second goal came when Reagan Boling ran under a pass from Coombs for a 2-0 lead with 17 minutes left in the half.
Gilmer added a third goal when Ansley Spagnola fired a shot from 12 yards out. West Hall’s goalkeeper got both hands on the ball but could not secure it and it rolled across the goal line.
GHS goalkeeper Brooke Wilson was not tested much in the half, and she saved all three off the Spartans’ shots.
The second half replicated the first as Nicholson began to funnel substitutions into the game. GHS pushed its lead to 4-0 with a goal by Lykins 14 minutes into the second half. Seven minutes later, Boling scored her second goal and Coombs provided the assist. GHS made it 6-0 with 5:36 to play when Lykins netted her second goal as Coombs notched her third assist.
The victory marked the Cats’ first region triumph of the year.
“In soccer, a lot of the girls who play school ball also play year-round on travel teams, so they end up playing together 10 months a year,” Nicholson said. “We’ve competed with several of these teams, but to come out and get our first region win in this region was a great way to end the week and start spring break. It proved to the girls that they can complete and win in a newer, tougher region.”
Gilmer was without multiple starters when it lost 5-2 to Pickens last Tuesday.
The Cats are 3-6 overall and will return to action April 13 at 5 p.m. for a nonregion match at home against the Murray County Indians.