Hartselle girls win section
The Hartselle girls soccer team won a section championship by finishing the season undefeated against section opponents. The team members are, from left, (front) coach Jeff Roberts, Sarah Shirley, Makayla Holladay, (middle) Leah Roberts, Joy Harris, Rebecca Romanger, Sarah Horner, Miriam Johennesson, Allie Teal, Addie Roberts, Shelby Harris, (back) Mckenzie Smithson, Haley Patterson, Caty Matthews, Alycia Timm, Chasity Golden, Ginny Edde, Paige Drouiliard, Taryn Dersham, Lindsey Woodruff and faculty advisor Nan Edde. | Special to the Enquirer: Haley Patterson
The Hartselle girls soccer will host the first round of the state playoffs Wednesday afternoon after the Lady Tigers won the Class 5A, Section 7 championship last week.
Hartselle (9-7-1, 4-0-0) will take on East Limestone Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. after it was postponed Tuesday.
Coach Jeff Roberts said his girls bought into the team concept and have played well together.
“They have really came together as a team this year and everyone put their egos aside for the sake of the team,” Roberts said. “We have had 9 different girls score goals from the field and 8 different girls with assists. Our leading scorer is a senior but our leader in assists is a freshman so it shows that everyone on this team contributes regardless of grade. My seniors have been great leaders and have made the freshman feel comfortable in their first year of high school soccer.”
The Lady Tigers clinched the section championship with a 2-1 win over Cullman last Tuesday, a win that came down to penalty kicks.
Cullman scored about 15 min into game to go up 1-0. Hartselle tied it on Allie Teal’s goal with five minutes left in regulation. Joy Harris had the assist.
The game then went to a shootout with kicks from the penalty mark. Hartselle won that 4-2 with Alycia Timm, Taryn Dersham, Sarah Horner and Lindsey Woodruff making their kicks. McKenzie Smithson went the whole way in the goal making 11 saves including two in the shootout.
“The girls could have easily thrown in the towel being down the whole game but refused to lose,” Roberts said. “I am very proud of the way they kept fighting and picked each other up and came back to win.”
If Hartselle wins in the first round of sub-state, the Lady Tigers will face the winner of Athens vs. Cullman.
Roberts said this team has accomplished huge goals by getting to this point.
“The team has done this while playing with class and sportsmanship,” Roberts said. “Regardless of what happens in the playoffs this team, school and city should be proud of what these young ladies have accomplished.”
