CCHS soccer picks up multiple wins during week’s action

Published 12:40 pm Monday, February 19, 2024

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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

The Chilton County High School soccer teams both picked up wins during their games last week, including the varsity boy’s team remaining unbeaten.

The varsity boys improved to 7-0 on the season after picking up two wins last week, the first, a 3-1 win over Montevallo High School at home on Feb. 13. The Tigers took the lead in the fourth minute after a Gentry Elmore penalty kick to make it 1-0, but Montevallo was awarded a penalty kick of their own shortly after. CCHS goalkeeper Mateo Hinjosa saved the initial attempt, but a rebound was slotted home by Montevallo to tie the game.

Just before the end of the first half, the Tigers’ Zakhori Jackson got behind the Montevallo defense to restore the lead for CCHS at 2-1 before the break. Elmore bagged a brace with his second goal in the second half, this one from live play.

CCHS head coach Brandon Gurganus said the team has yet to reach their full potential, but the match against Montevallo was their most complete performance of the season so far.

“This team’s potential has few limitations, and hopefully in the early season, we have been able to fix our issues and we will be ready for the start of area play,” Gurganus said. “On-field communication and taking the opportunities that our opponents are giving us are the two things that are keeping us from putting that complete game together. Once those come together, we have a chance against anyone.”

CCHS hit the road on Feb. 15 to visit LAMP High School for their second game of the week and controlled possession throughout the first half, leading to Elmore’s opener to give the Tigers the 1-0 lead at halftime. LAMP made some adjustments at halftime that asked questions of the CCHS defense, and they tied the game shortly after the break.

However, Elmore got his second brace in as many games, slotting home his second shortly after the LAMP equalizer. Jorge Castillo put the game away with a goal later despite the late LAMP goal to make it 3-2.

The CCHS varsity girl’s soccer team brought their overall record back up to .500 after last week’s action, starting with the program’s first win over Montevallo prior to the varsity boy’s win. Charleigh Hicks’ long-range goal was the difference in the game, and Kendall Moore earned the clean sheet in goal after a barrage of shots late from Montevallo.

The varsity girls had their Lakeshore Shootout tournament from Feb. 16-17 and dropped their first two games of the tournament to Crossville and Leeds high schools. However, the team bounced back in a big way in their third and final game of the tournament with a 7-2 win over Huffman High School. Hicks had a hat trick for the Tigers, and Karina Flores had two goals in the win. Kendall Moore and the lone senior on the team Amairany Leyva also contributed a goal each to get the team back to .500 at 3-3 on the season.

CCHS is back in action this week starting with the varsity boys hitting the road on Feb. 19 to face Stanhope Elmore High School at 7 p.m. Both varsity teams open their area play on Feb. 22 traveling to Calera High School with the varsity girls kicking off at 5 p.m., and the varsity boys following after.