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Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff HHS seniors Julia Schmitt and Hayley Borino both had two goals on the night.
On Monday night, the Highlands School Lady Highlander varsity soccer team struck early and hard to take down Blue Ridge Early College, 7-1, in a conference matchup.
Right off the bat, Blue Ridge started strong with possession, forcing two corner kicks, but Highlands’ goalkeeper Ava Schmitt was there to handle the cross.
With 33:10 left in the first half, Reese Schmitt took a hard shot outside the 18-yard box, hitting the upper left corner of the goal to go up 1-0.
BREC’s Vanessa Russell had a shot for the Lady Bobcats, but it went wide right.
With 29:52 left in the half, Reese Schmitt had another hard shot on goal, but it was blocked by the Lady Bobcat keeper, setting up a corner kick.
HHS senior Hayley Borino set up for the corner and connected with Caroline Woods who buried the cross in the lower left corner to increase the Lady Highlander lead 2-0.
The Lady Highlanders almost had another chance, but it was taken away. Gabby Diaz dribbled down the left sideline and took a shot across the goal, but was tipped by the Lady Bobcat keeper. Reese Schmitt was there to body the ball in the goal, but it was called back on offsides.
BREC kept the pressure on the Lady Highlanders, forcing Ava Schmitt to make another save setting up a corner. Ava Schmitt then caught the ball to get out of danger with 16:17 left in the half.
With 9:23 left in the half, Aislynn Luck was fouled on the edge of the 18-yard box, setting up a direct free kick for Hayley Borino. The senior then lofted the ball over the BREC keeper to go up 3-0.
One minute later, HHS senior Brandy Zagal connected with Borino again, who buried the ball in the bottom left corner, increasing the Lady Highlander lead 4-0.
With 1:10 left in the half, a handball set up another chance for the Lady Highlanders before halftime. Julia Schmitt positioned the ball about 10 yards outside the 18-yard box and sent a rocket passed the BREC keeper to go up 5-0.
A couple of minutes into the second half, the Lady Highlanders capitalized on a corner kick. The cross came in and bounced around the box and Reese Schmitt buried it in the bottom right corner to make it 6-0.
The Lady Bobcats finally found some pep in their step after a handball set up a free kick outside the 18-yard box. Mercedes McLaughlin lofted the ball over the Highlands keeper to escape the shutout, 6-1.
Right after the Lady Bobcat goal, Gabby Diaz dribbled through the BREC defense and put their hopes of a comeback away, ending the scoring effort, 7-1.
With the loss, the Lady Bobcats fall to 3-8 on the season and 2-6 in the conference. The Lady Highlanders improve to 9-3-1 on the season and 6-1 in the conference.
The Lady Highlander’s senior night is schedule for Thursday, May 5, at 6 p.m., against Hayesville.
- By Christopher Lugo