Lady Mavs strike back: Take 3-1 win at Scott

Natalie Bartley’s hat trick helps seal district title

October 17, 2018 by Conner McCarty

Last week, The Anderson County Lady Mavericks Soccer team (12-2-4) achieved a District 5-AA Championship.

The Lady Mavs were led by Junior center midfielder/forward Natalie Bartley, who tallied four goals in two games.

The District Championship win means that Anderson County will host the Region-3 Semifinal, and a win in that game would solidify a sub-state birth.

Last Tuesday, to start District Tournament play, second-seeded Anderson County hosted Loudon High School in the District 5-AA Semifinal match.

The Lady Mavs would take an early one-nil advantage when Bartley would find the back of the net in the eighth minute of play. Anderson County’s scoring phenom, forward Tori Wetherington, would strike in the 33rd minute — and the Lady Mavs led 2-0.

Anderson County would keep the Lady Redskins off the board, and see out a 2-0 result.

Lee University commit and senior goalkeeper Mollie Wheeler, with the help of her backline, would earn another shutout. The victory guaranteed Anderson County’s presence in Region-3 tournament play.

Last Thursday, Anderson County traveled to face top-seeded Scott High School in the District Championship match.

The Lady Mavs had revenge on their minds, after a late-September 1-0 home loss to the Lady Highlanders knocked Anderson County off the top of the District-5 standings.

Behind Natalie Bartley, they Lady Mavs would get their revenge. The Junior would find the back of the net three times. Bartley’s hattrick propelled Anderson County to a 3-1 win at Scott High School, and a District 5-AA Tournament crown.

Tuesday night (Oct. 16) Anderson County hosted the District 6-AA Runner-Up, Cumberland County High School — who fell to Livingston Academy on penalty kicks in the District 6-AA Final. The Region 3 Semifinal was a rematch, where both teams met the first game of the season — a 0-0 draw. The match result was unavailable by press time.

While a loss would end their season, a Lady Mavs’ semifinal victory puts them in the Region 3 tournament final.

Anderson County would travel to face the winner of Livingston Academy/Scott, the other Region 3 semifinal.

Also, an Anderson County win would mean they will play an elimination match in the TSSAA Sectionals match Saturday, Oct. 20, for a chance to advance to the TSSAA State Tournament in Murfreesboro.