By Rickey Clardy
UNIONVILLE – There was no shortage of excitement for 80 minutes in the District 9-A and intra-county soccer matchup between the Cascade Lady Champions and Community Viqueens Tuesday night, but it was the Lady Champs who remained undefeated in district play by taking a 2-goal lead and holding on to defeat the Viqueens 2-1.
Despite the rain holding off during the game, the track was wet from pregame showers as the players took care to play the skidding of the ball from the moisture on the grass.
It was the Lady Champions who seemed to be a step faster to the ball for a majority of the first half and had numerous scoring opportunities that just missed the mark. The Lady Champs had three crosses in the first 12 minutes and a shot in the 19th minute that hit the post as the game remained scoreless.
The Viqueens had a couple of shots snuffed by Lady Champ goalie Sophie Ray before another Cascade shot was stopped by Community netminder Carlie Blanton.
The Lady Champions finally took the lead in the 28th minute as Olivia Winnett’s shot was high enough to deflect off the outstretched hand of the goalie as Cascade took a 1-0 lead.
The Viqueens knocked on the door from close range a minute later after a turnover but could not break the ice as the Lady Champs took their advantage to the intermission.
Community picked up the pace in the second half and increased its scoring chances. A couple of shots in the first 13 minutes of the half and an attempt from close range in the 64th minute were the best of the Viqueen chances.
But it was the Lady Champions who executed a corner kick to perfection in the 69th minute to extend their lead. The corner from Ella McGeary found Kelsey Shatley to the right of the goal and Shatley drilled the ball into the back of the net to give Cascade a 2-0 lead.
Even though the momentum swung as the Lady Champs missed two good opportunities in the next five minutes, it was the Viqueens who tallied the next goal as Stevie Dickenson scored in the 77th minute to trim the Lady Champion lead to 2-1.
There were no serious scoring threats in the final minutes as the Lady Champs extended their District 9-A lead.
Cascade will entertain Fayetteville Thursday night while Community will travel to Huntland Friday night as the two teams wind down their 2024 regular seasons.
Cascade 1 1 – 2
Community 0 1 – 1
First Half
Cascade – Olivia Winnett goal (28th minute)
Second Half
Cascade – Kelsey Shatley goal from Ella McGeary (69th minute)
Community – Stevie Dickenson goal (77th minute)
Ellie Bullington of the Viqueens and Sophia Mastrosimone of the Lady Champs race to the ball.
