Lady Highlanders net six in win against Rabun County
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Photo by Christopher Lugo/Staff Highlands School junior Addie Westendorf had the first goal of the night against Rabun County on Friday.
The Highlands School varsity girls’ soccer team is on a hot streak, winning three in a row against Cherokee, Thursday night 9-0, Rabun County, Friday night 6-2, and Blue Ridge Early College, Monday night 8-0.
“I think this season is progressing pretty well,” head coach Caleb Brown said. “We are really taking into account what we have been practicing, especially with forming walls and set pieces. We’ve really been focusing a lot on set pieces and playing two touch soccer. I think they have been showing that over the past couple games.”
In Friday’s game against Rabun County, Caroline Woods got things started off with a shot outside the 18 straight to the Lady Wildcat keeper.
Rabun County came fighting back with a shot from the right side of the goal, but Lady Highlander keeper Ava Schmitt had a big save to keep it 0-0.
With 31:23 left in the half, Addie Westendorf had a shot that went flying by the Lady Wildcat keeper to take the lead, but right after kickoff, Rabun County answered with a shot from outside the 18 to level things at 1-1.
Julia Schmitt followed up after the goal with a shot from outside the 18 that rattled the crossbar.
With 25:31 left in the half, Reese Schmitt broke through the Lady Wildcat defense and had a shot, but the ball went wide right.
Julia Schmitt kept hammering the goal with shots from outside the 18, and Hayley Borino had a set piece just outside the 18 that went wide right.
With 14:38 left in the half, Caroline Woods connected with Gabriela Diaz on the left side of the goal, where she slid the ball passed the goalkeeper to go up 2-1.
The Lady Highlanders didn’t pump the brakes after the goal, with shots from Julia Schmitt, Gabriela Diaz and Reese Schmitt.
With 5:42 left in the half, Hayley Borino connected with Reese Schmitt who had a low shot inside the 18 for a goal increase the lead 3-1.
Reese had another shot at the end of the half, but the Lady Tiger keeper was there to save it and go into the half up 3-1.
At the beginning of the second half, the Lady Highlanders almost capitalized on a corner kick from Hayley Borino, but the header from Reese Schmitt went over the goal.
The Lady Wildcats found some momentum and had two shots with 24:10 left in the game, but both went wide right.
Hayley Borino followed after the Rabun County efforts with a goal of her own to increase the Lady Highlander lead 4-1.
A set piece by Rabun County with 21 minutes left went straight to Ava Schmitt, then Reese Schmitt took on the Lady Tiger defense by herself, finding the left side of the goal to make it 5-1.
With 7:24 left in the game, Hayley Borino lofted the ball over the Lady Wildcat keeper to increase the Lady Highlander lead 6-1.
The Lady Wildcats had one last effort with 5:34 left in the game. Rabun County found a girl open in the center of the 18, who put it away to end the scoring effort 6-2.
Reese Schmitt and Hayley Borino ended the game with two goals apiece.
“The girls played some very good soccer tonight,” Brown said. “They came out of the gate, strung three passes together and had a shot. So, that is always good to see. We are trying to score as quickly as possible, and they really outdid themselves. We got some good substitutes in, as well.”
With the win, the Lady Highlanders improve to 4-2 on the season and 2-1 in the region. They take on Hayesville this afternoon at 4 p.m., in Hayesville.
- By Christopher Lugo
