PORTLAND — A first-half onslaught was enough to make sure the District 29-5A girls soccer championship trophy won't go away.
The Gregory Portland girls soccer team won its seventh straight district championship with a three-goal performance before the first half, defeating Flower Bluff 3-0 at Ray Akins Wildcat Stadium.
The Hornets showed their mettle early in the second half, but even in the face of maximum pressure they maintained a clean slate with Gregory Portland goaltender Caitlin Kilgore deflecting several solid Flower Bluff shots. , ensuring the team raised another golden soccer ball.
“We did a good job especially pressing high up the field and counter-pressing,” Gregory Portland women's soccer coach Casey Wyatt said. “That was the emphasis in playing with this team: winning the ball high up the field and trying to reduce dangerous moments on the last line. And for the most part we did a good job. I thought I did.”
Gregory Portland found the back of the net in the second minute, but his goal was ruled offside.
Six minutes later, Rebecca Nolen hit a high shot just under the crossbar for a 1-0 lead. Madison Kilgore chased the ball with the Flower Bluff keeper, and as the ball trickled in, Kilgore scored for a 2-0 lead before Taylor Baker tied it with a goal in the 35th minute.
Flower Bluff coach Mario Lopez said his team showed some fight in the second half, but the holes were too big in the first half.
“They definitely put a lot of pressure on us,” Lopez said. “We didn't get off to a very good start. We played much better in the second half. In a game like this, in this level of competition, that's not going to cut it.”
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preserve tradition
Makenzie Ivey, who had two assists, said the expectations passed down from previous Lady Cats are leading to the team's success.
“We're expected to win,” Ivey said. “We work very hard and practice very hard. We expect to win district championships every year. It takes a lot of team building, teamwork, watching a lot of film… it takes a lot It requires that.”
Wyatt said there is a trickle-down effect as GP women's soccer traditions continue to build each year.
“The words we used a lot this year were responsibility and expectation,” Wyatt said. “We feel like we had a lot of that. We felt it was our responsibility to perform worthy of a championship. It's difficult every year, but at least the expectation is to hoist this trophy.”
“The girls, along with their parents and coaches, including the boys' staff, deserve the utmost gratitude for their efforts. Nothing would be possible without their help.”
The Lady Cats earned the No. 1 seed and are scheduled to warm up for the playoffs before the bi-district playoffs begin on March 25th. Flower Bluff will earn the No. 2 seed from the district heading into the postseason.
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