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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Both of Chilton County High School’s soccer teams got positive results and returned to better form during the week’s action from March 7-13. All three teams got positive results hosting Prattville Christian Academy on March 13.

The varsity boys traveled to Benjamin Russell High School for their first Class 6A Area 5 matchup of the season on March 11. The Tigers built a 2-1 lead in the first half behind Avibau Mendez’s left-footed shot and Cristian Zurita’s diving header off an assist from Jose Salgado. The hosts took a 3-2 lead quickly in the second half and the Tigers held it there until two set-piece goals from corners made it a 5-2 final.

“I was really proud of the effort and focus,” Brandon Gurganus, CCHS varsity boys head coach, said. “We were down several key players due to injury and had a few guys banged up, but the guys played so hard … Many of them being forced into new positions.”

After their fifth consecutive setback, the Tigers regrouped before hosting PCA on March 13. The regroup did wonders for the squad and yielded a 7-0 win, their first since Feb. 20. Senior Angel Gonzalez had a hat trick, and fellow seniors Eli Crawford and Zurita each added a goal as well. Mendez and sophomore Weston Corley rounded out the scoresheet for CCHS.

“We really needed this,” Gurganus said. “We are a physically and mentally exhausted team. This was a true team win, and I could not be happier for the guys.”

The varsity girls did not fare well on the road at Benjamin Russell either, falling 10-0 in their opening Class 6A Area 5 matchup of the season. Similar to the boys, the girls regrouped before the PCA game and earned a 1-1 draw out of the matchup to break a three-game losing streak. Mary Thornhill scored late in the first half, and the Tigers held the lead until the late stages when PCA was awarded a penalty kick and converted from the spot to force a draw.

The junior varsity boys also took their matchup over PCA 5-0 with braces from freshmen Rex Totten and Julio Galvan, and seventh grader Alston Chen adding the fifth goal.

The varsity teams for CCHS will be back in action on March 18 for another Class 6A Area 5 matchup traveling to Calera High School. On March 20, the junior varsity boys and varsity girls teams will host Stanhope Elmore High School.