Red hot Lady Mavs’ soccer wins Region, but hit by stormy weather
Mollie Wheeler gets a hug from teammates Maddie Moody (7) and Kelsey Braden after shutting out Scott High for the Region Championship. (photo:Ken Leinart )
The Lady Mavs faced Cumberland County High School in the Region Semifinals.
A 2-1 victory moved them on to the Region Final against Scott High School, where the Lady Mavs lifted another trophy after defeating the Lady Highlanders, 1-0.
Winning the region gave Anderson County home field advantage for the TSSAA Sectionals, but the Lady Canes of East Hamilton would steal a 2-0 result, and end Anderson County’s season.
Although the Lady Mavs fell one win short of Murfreesboro, the Anderson County girls soccer team has much to be proud about.
On Tuesday night (Oct. 16), the Lady Jets of Cumberland County visited the Anderson County turf. The Region 3-AA Semifinal matchup was an elimination game, and guaranteed the winner a spot in the TSSAA Sectionals. Possession was largely dominated by Cumberland County in the first half. However, possession does not put points on the scoreboard. The Lady Mavs only had two shots during the entire 80’ of play. Yet, Anderson County would capitalize on both chances. In the 12’, junior Natalie Bartley assisted fellow junior Laura Wilson. Wilson found the back of the net, and Anderson County led 1-nil. Only eight minutes later, Bartley would do it herself, and tucked away a second for the Lady Mavs. Anderson County led 2-0 halfway through the first half, and they took the two-goal advantage into the break. Just five minutes into the second half, the Lady Jets would cut their deficit in half, 2-1. Yet, Cumberland County was unable to find a second. Senior goalkeeper and Lee University commit Mollie Wheeler recorded three saves, and held strong to see out Anderson County’s semifinal victory. The Lady Mavs were outshot seven-to-two by the Lady Jets, but ended Cumberland County’s season with the win. “We came out and gave it our all, and that is what matters in the end,” said Bartley.
On Thursday night (Oct. 18), Anderson County hosted Scott High School in the Region 3-AA Final. It was the third meeting between the two squads this season. It was not a do-or-die matchup, but the winner would have home field advantage for the TSSAA Sectionals. As excepted in games where the teams are familiar with each other, the action was back and forth. In the 23’ of play, Anderson County was awarded a free kick. Bartley’s service pinged around the Lady Highlander 18-yard box. The ball would land at the feet of sophomore midfielder Thelma Guidino, who rocketed a low shot on frame. The Lady Highlanders’ goalkeeper got down to it, but somehow it was mishandled, squeaked out behind her, and rolled into the net. Guidino put the Lady Mavs up 1-0, and it was all Anderson County needed. “I was there following up the ball. I took it, and it went in,” said Guidino. The Lady Highlanders outshot Anderson County four-to-three, but were unable to get by Mollie Wheeler, who had two saves and earned the shutout. The Lady Mavs lifted the Region 3-AA trophy for the first time in 14 years, and the win ensured home field advantage for sub-state. When asked about how he felt after claiming the Region Title, Head Coach Chris Curtin simply replied, “It’s about time!”
On Saturday night (Oct. 20), the Region 4-AA runner up East Hamilton Lady Hurricanes visited “The Bullring” for a spot in the TSSAA State Tournament. Most of the first half action was played in the Anderson County third of the field, as the Lady Canes controlled much of the possession. It seemed like the Lady Mavs would find a way through the Lady Canes’ barrage, and get out of the first half with the match still scoreless. However, East Hamilton would find the back of the net two minutes before the break. In the 38’ of play, junior forward Stephanie Sedeno found herself in open space behind the Lady Mavs’ backline. Face-to-face with Wheeler, Sedeno slotted home the breakaway opportunity, and the Lady Canes took a 1-nil lead. The second half action was much of the same. The Lady Mavs spent much of the half trying to get out of their own third of the pitch. The Lady Canes would put the game away in the 74’, when junior Amber Gicker would find the back of the net for the Lady Canes second. East Hamilton saw out the last six minutes, and defeated Anderson County 2-0—earning a spot in the TSSAA State Tournament. The Lady Canes outshot the Lady Mavs ten-to-seven. In her last game in a Maverick uniform, Mollie Wheeler tallied four saves. Fellow senior outside-mid Kelsey Braden led the Lady Mavs with two shots on frame.
The Anderson County Lady Mavericks fell one game short of Murfreesboro, but it was a season to be proud of. The Lady Mavs finish the 2018 season with a 14-3-4 record, District 5-AA Champions, and Region 3-AA Champions.