The Highlanders soccer team’s first conference game of the season on Monday evening, Sept. 9, was a success, as the Highlanders won 7-1 over the Andrews Wildcats.
It was the Highlanders’ first win this season as well, which Coach Caleb Brown said was “really important” after a string of losses.
The Highlanders scored in the first few minutes. Then the Wildcats scored with around 20 minutes left to go in the half, tying things 1-1.
That was the last time either team scored in the first half. The Wildcats went on the offensive, but the Highlanders’ goalie was able to block all the rest of their shots.
The Highlanders were rejuvenated when the teams came back for the second half. Within two minutes, they scored and jumped ahead 2-1 over the Wildcats. Then the home team came back and scored again minutes later, raising the total to 3-1.
With 16 minutes left, Highlanders junior Bryan Jarquin drove the ball down the field and into the goal, bringing the total to 4-1. Despite numerous tussles for the ball between players, the Highlanders were able to keep the Wildcats on the defensive for the rest of the game.
The Highlanders scored their fifth goal on a header, then scored again in a quick dash from the edge of the field with less than three minutes left, bringing them to 6-1.
Finally, with 52 seconds left on the clock, Highlander freshman Rowan Carnes, positioned right near the net, was able to deliver one last goal, finishing the game 7-1.
Brown, speaking after the game, said he thought after seeing the scoreboard during halftime, the team was “motivated to get back out there and do their best.”
“They came out they worked really hard,” he said. “It feels good to go out there and get a win and do the right thing. In the first half, we kinda came out flat, we were a little slow, and we weren’t playing our best game that we could’ve been playing. And in the second half, we kinda got more behind the ball and moving the ball around.”
Brown said the plan going forward was to hopefully keep up the momentum.
“Our goal is to try and go undefeated in conference or at least win at conference. We just want to do our best,” he added.
Highlands’ next scheduled game is at home tonight, Sept. 12, against the Franklin Panthers.