-
Highlands held on for a 2-1 victory over Blue Ridge on Wednesday. The Highlanders reached the Spring Break with a 5-3 record, 4-1 in conference.
Strong defense on both sides of the field and offsetting late goals propelled the Highlands girls soccer team to a 2-1 victory over the Blue Ridge Bobcats Wednesday night.
Coming off a Monday night win over Hayesville, the Bobcats hosted the Highlanders for the first time this season.
With 29:28 left in the first half, Blue Ridge keeper Peyton Bryson slapped the ball away from the goal following a challenging shot, and prevented Highlands from getting on the board first.
Highlands missed their first penalty kick attempt at 18:12. Bryson saved another penalty kick by the visitors with 12:03 to go in the first half.
With 6:17 left in the half, Highlands scored their first goal when Aislynn Wyatt-Luck snuck through the defense and fired past the defenseless keeper.
For the first eight minutes of the second half, both teams showed excellent defense and succeeded in keeping the score at 1-0.
Midway through the second half, Highlands rushed up the left side and Cayden Pierson scored past Bryson to make the score 2-0 in the Highlanders’ favor.
Determined not to be shut out by their rivals on the Highlands-Cashiers Plateau, Blue Ridge senior Mercedes McLaughlin launched the ball down the middle of the field with 2:31 left, posting the Bobcats’ only goal.
Highlands keeper Olivia Cole registered four saves in the victory.
Highlands (5-3 overall, 4-1 conference) followed up Wednesday’s 2-1 win at Blue Ridge with a 9-0 blowout of Tri-County on Thursday.
The Highlanders will be back in action at home on Tuesday, April 18 when the Murphy Bulldogs pay a visit to HHS.
Highlands defeated Murphy 4-1 earlier this season in Cherokee County. The game will have major implications in the Little Smoky Mountain 1-A Conference. Swain County currently leads the league with a 6-0 mark, followed by Highlands at 4-1 and Murphy at 4-2 in the league.