Varsity girls’ soccer is officially underway for the 2024 season.
Highlands visited Summit Charter School Tuesday for both teams’ first games of the year and the Bears walked away with 3-1 victory.
Highlands was supposed to host the contest, but it was moved to Summit due to inclement weather, which rendered the Highlands School field unplayable. Regardless of some chills, thick clouds, and drizzle, fans for both teams still lined the hill by Summit’s soccer field.
Summit’s scored the first two goals in the game in the opening 10 minutes. The first score came from a free kick that sailed into the net. As time ticked closer to 16 minutes remaining in the first, Summit scored yet again. Several players from both teams were around a loose ball, but defense opened up and the ball crashed into the net making the score 3-0.
Highlands answered quickly and scored its lone goal with12 minutes left in the first half when Cayden Pierson found the back of the net.
Both teams tightened up their defense in the second half as scoring chances became increasingly hard to come by.
The Highlanders finished with eight shots on goal in the game. Highlands goal keepers Olivia Cole and Trinity Faust combined to make six saves. Summit was awarded three corner kicks to Highlands’ one on the night.
Highlands (0-1 overall) will travel to Hayesville on Thursday to open up Smoky Mountain 1-A Conference play. The Highlanders first home game of the season is scheduled for Thursday, March 14, when Swain County comes pays a visit.