GAME RECAP: Carter 2-5 Oak Ridge
In the Onrise Care High School Game of the Week, the Lady SoccerCats topple the Lady Hornets on the road.
In the first-ever meeting between the programs, the Oak Ridge Lady SoccerCats (10-5) tangled with the Carter Lady Hornets (6-9) under the lights in Strawberry Plains this Tuesday, Oct. 4. And the visitors walked away with a 5-2 victory—their first on a turf pitch this season. Both teams now look forward to their respective district tournaments.
Oak Ridge kicked off the night with a swift goal from freshman midfielder Hayven Laurendine. In the second minute, she took a pass from fellow freshman forward Lilah Kim across the front of the penalty box, bouncing the ball off the keeper’s extended left hand. Standing a full head taller than the players around her, Laurendine was the key offensive figure throughout the match for the Lady SoccerCats.
The Lady Hornets favored an ultra-high tempo style of play in their offense, though it resulted in few advances toward Oak Ridge’s goal. In Carter’s midfield, senior Maliya Brake exhibited her immense skill with highly technical footwork to take and maintain possession. Oak Ridge, meanwhile, played aggressively and was slow to find precision in passing and tackling.
The second goal of the night came in the 29th minute. Oak Ridge junior forward Aniya Fisher took a direct free kick from 20 yards out, tipping it in off the keeper’s hand again. Sophomore midfielder Lera Lee followed in the 38th minute with a shot from directly in front to set the halftime score at 3-0 in favor of the SoccerCats.
Despite the score at the half, neither team looked truly in control. The teams swapped possession back and forth, and each spent lengthy periods on the opposing end of the field. Oak Ridge had found a weakness in Carter’s defense, but that was the only edge either team seemed to have over the other.
Out the gate in the second, the Lady Hornets regained their high tempo. They sent forwards deep into Oak Ridge’s area with a livelier and more coordinated approach than they had in the first half. The Lady SoccerCats were still aggressive, but they toned their play down some to find the accuracy and precision they had lacked earlier.
In the 50th minute, Fisher scored her second goal off a cross from Laurendine.
Carter’s first close look at a goal came in the 60th minute when freshman forward Jaiden Davis found herself with an open look from the right edge of the penalty box. Her shot bounced up from the crossbar and out of play.
Davis made good on a chance at redemption in the 71st minute, working her way into the same position and then nailing her shot into the top of the net. Twenty seconds later she nearly repeated the feat off a pass from senior forward Trinity Perry, but her shot went wide into the side netting.
In the 78th minute, junior midfielder Olivia Paul added Oak Ridge’s fifth goal of the night from a high arcing shot that floated well above the Lady Hornets keeper and into the back of the net.
With just 20 seconds left in the game, Brake scored Carter’s second of the night from just outside the penalty box.
Both schools finish their regular season on Thursday, Oct. 6. Oak Ridge hosts Rhea County, and Carter travels to South-Doyle. Their respective district tournaments will kick off Saturday, Oct. 8.
The High School Game of the Week is brought to you by Onrise Care:
Onrise Care takes a team-based approach to delivering high-quality, compassionate mental health and athlete player care. Learn more at onrisecare.com or call 865-288-8970 to learn about their tele-psychiatry and other services."
Oak Ridge Head Coach Donnie Green
On his priorities for this match:
“We struggle on turf. This is our first win of the year on turf. It was good for us, because I know we’re probably going to go see West next Tuesday, if we make the district semifinals, and they play on turf. Our goal was getting here and playing better on turf, and we did. I’ve got a very young team. Most AAA teams don’t typically start five freshmen. This group has really exceeded my expectations. We improve each day, and with our youth they’re finally gaining confidence and trust and finding that team chemistry.”
Carter Head Coach Cullen Ball
On his outlook for playoffs:
“The girls have played hard, I’m glad they played tough until the end even though we were behind. I feel pretty good looking to the tournament. We should advance on into the region.”