Cartersville, Cass soccer teams sweep to Thursday night victories
March 1, 2024
The Cartersville and Cass soccer teams both swept to Thursday night victories. The Cartersville girls and boys defeated Sonoraville while the Cass girls and boys won at McEachern.
CARTERSVILLE GIRLS 10, SONORAVILE 0
Lady Canes story submitted by Alex Farmer via CanesAthletics.com
Entering Thursday night’s matchup with Sonoraville, Annabelle Williams was confident her team hadn’t played their best game. She did her part, in taking her six goals for the season and doubling that in one half of play.
Lundyn Eubanks and Kiley McMichael also had scores as the Lady Canes raced to an 8-0 halftime lead. The game ended per GHSA rules ten minutes into the second half after Mallory Nicklas scored two more to make it 10-0.
With seniors Hattie Williams and Maci Nicklas pacing the team as they have all season, (three and two assists, respectively) all ten goals were scored by sophomores.
Anabelle Williams said her teammates played with a purpose in moving to 4-3 on the season.
“That’s a good team over there and they’ve beaten really good teams,” she said, nodding to the Sonoraville bench. “We wanted to come out and prove that we’re better than we’ve shown so far. We’ve worked harder these last two games and in practice to change things and be stronger.”
Williams’ first goal came in the fifth minute of the game. Following a looping pass over the top of the defense from Maci Nicklas, she began her run from 35 yards out to dribble in and finish with a rocket into the lower right corner.
With barely 40 seconds of the game clock elapsed, Williams began another run by passing across the field to her sister. Hattie Williams took the ball down the right side before sending a cross that Eubanks one-touched to the corner for a 2-0 lead.
The next five scores came courtesy of Annabelle Williams, the first banging off the left post into the goal from 18 yards out. A Sonoraville defender set up the next by misplaying the ball toward her goal, a punishable mistake Williams seized by shooting between the keeper’s legs to extend the lead to 4-0 and officially earn the hat trick.
In the 26th minute, Williams scored goal number four off a pass from her sister, directed into the lower left corner. The fifth came less than a minute later on a penalty kick in the box. Her fifth score was a roller carefully placed beyond the keeper’s reach past the left post.
After some nice skill from Elizabeth Villela to beat her defender, Williams received the pass before sending it on to McMichael, who ended the first half scoring.
Mallory Nicklas scored to make it 9-0 in the fifth minute of the second half, sending the ball off her dribble from 35 yards out. Five minutes later she ended the game with a shot from the same distance, this time with it hitting the top bar and bouncing down into the goal.
Williams credited a recent focus on precision over power when it came to finishing shots on goal.
“That’s something I’ve been working on the past week,” she said. “I’ll go into a game with a specific word in mind because I want to have goals, and the word this week was ‘confident.’”
The Lady Canes’ (4-3-0) next game comes March 5, on the road at Johns Creek (5-2-0) for a 6 p.m. start.
CARTERSVILLE BOYS 2, SONORAVILLE 0
Canes story via DJ Paradis / CanesAthletics.com
Colby Craig’s redirect off his shoulder into the net in the third minute of play was enough for the Canes on Thursday night (Feb. 29), as CHS added another late goal for a 2-0 win over Sonoraville.
Eduardo Hernandez factored in both scores, rainbowing the pass to Craig from the left side of the field that was sent bouncing past the keeper.
Colby Craig pushes the ball upfield against Sonoraville. Photo/Scott Barkley
With just over ten minutes to play, Hernandez again broke loose with the ball after CHS worked a possession past midfield. After collecting a pass, the junior forward streaked toward the left side and was eventually tackled in the box.
Yosvanni Pineda made good on the free kick, sending it up and slightly right as the keeper guessed far right and low.
“We played with confidence tonight,” said Canes head coach DJ Paradis. “We had a change in attitude and were a lot more aggressive. We started playing the style we’re used to and attacking the wings, playing off each other and committing to the runs. It was a good win for us.
“If we keep playing like this, we’re going to have some good results.”
Craig’s goal set an early tone, as the Canes kept the ball on the visitors’ side of the pitch for most of the first half. Coming out of the break, though, the Phoenix established more control. Paradis responded by working in substitutes like freshman midfielder Rhett Jacobs to disrupt Sonoraville’s offense.
Craig gave a nod to Hernandez for setting up his first varsity goal.
“The middle was open and he played a perfect ball,” he said. “I made contact with it and that was it.”
Hernandez said the win showed a different team than had been on display so far this season.
“For the last couple of games, we came out with no energy. We played with pride in this one and moved the ball very well. We communicated and that brought the team spirit up,” he said.
The non-region loss dropped Sonoraville to 4-2 on the season.
The Cartersville boys improved to 2-5. The Canes play next at Johns Creek on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
CASS GIRLS 1, McEACHERN 0
The Cass girls' soccer team got the game's only goal in the first half when a pair of freshmen combined with an assist and goal. Ryland Piatt found the net off a feed from Zoe Bailey and the score held for a 1-0 final.
Lady Colonels' keepers Layla Allgood and Samantha Bradford combined in net for the shutout.
The loss dropped the Lady Indians to 2-5 on the season.
Cass (3-2) is scheduled to host Cedartown on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
CASS BOYS 5, McEACHERN 1
The Cass boys led 2-1 at halftime and exploded for three second-half goals Thursday night in Powder Springs to win 5-1 at McEachern.
No individual data was provided.
The loss dropped the host Indians to 1-4-1.
Cass (5-1-1) hosts Cedartown on Friday at 7:30 p.m.
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