Clarke Central High School junior Evie Moser (right) goes in for a hard tackle to gain control of the ball during the CCHS vs. Morgan County High School varsity soccer game on Feb. 25. CCHS head varsity soccer coach Chris Hulse believes the team stepped up to the physical intensity presented by MCHS. “They were a really physical team, but we knew that coming in so our girls responded to the challenge and I think we set the tone physically. We certainly (did not play) our best soccer, but I think it’s a continuous improvement right now,” Hulse said. Photo by Gretchen Hinger
The Clarke Central High School boys and girls varsity soccer teams played Morgan County High School in Death Valley on Feb. 25.
GIRLS VARSITY
The Clarke Central High School boys and girls varsity soccer teams hosted the Morgan County High School Bulldogs on Feb. 25 in Billy Henderson Stadium.
The CCHS varsity girls team started off ahead, with sophomore Mayra Sesmas scoring a goal within the first five minutes of the game.
“I think (my early goal) pushed us a little harder, so we can score even more and more, you know have it just bring the team up a little more,” Sesmas said. “I love how the team stayed composed. (We did) great in the back. I think we played an overall good game.”
MCHS met CCHS with strength in addition to a height advantage, allowing them to keep possession of the ball until midway through the first half, when CCHS’s speed and agility led midfielder and junior Marie Shumaker to score the second goal of the night, securing the lead for the Gladiators.
“They were one of the larger teams we’ve played so far, but our girls rose to that challenge. I don’t think we were outmatched physically though, I think (MCHS) assumed that we were outmatched physically,” CCHS head girls varsity soccer coach Chris Hulse said.
MCHS dominated control of the ball throughout the second half but was unable to score, ending the game with a 2-0 win for the CCHS Lady Glads.
“We knew that (MCHS) is a tough nose team that was going to play (hard) the entire game no matter what the circumstances were,” Hulse said. “So we even talked literally just before coming to the field about them entering our stadium, us challenging them physically and still managing to play the game and it worked out about like we anticipated.”
The result of the game left the varsity girls with a record of 3-2 so far this season.
“You can always execute better. I tell them all the time that execution may not be perfect, but effort can be perfect,” Hulse said. “So the soccer can get cleaned up, and we’ll continue getting better at that, but you’re not gonna see better effort from a team than what we did tonight.”
The Clarke Central High School varsity soccer teams faced off against the Morgan County Bulldogs in the Billy Henderson Stadium on Feb 25.
BOYS VARSITY
For the CCHS boys’ varsity game, energy started off high, with numerous attempted goals that were held off by the MCHS goalie, before MCHS scored approximately halfway through the first half.
“Honestly, I’d just say (we struggled with) our finishing. We got a lot of really good chances in the final third, but we just couldn’t finish it. Their goalie was phenomenal with his saves, had a couple (of) goaling clearances, but our finishing in the final third could be better,” CCHS right-wing and junior Hunter Yelton said.
Nearing the end of the first half, control of the ball remained divided between the teams, with MCHS scoring due to a direct free kick. CCHS forward and senior Josh Wong retaliated with a Gladiator goal, ending the first half 2-1, MCHS.
“Once we gave up that goal, we gave (MCHS) some confidence, let them settle down, and they started playing pretty good actually, and then they scored that second one and got even more confidence,” CCHS head varsity coach Chris Aiken said.
Only seconds into the second half, Yelton passed Wong the ball and he scored again, tying the game 2-2.
“(After the two MCHS goals, we were) kind of wondering where are we gonna go, are we gonna put our heads down, are we gonna fight back?” Aiken said. “Then we were lucky to get that goal to go to 2-1, and then that quick ball from (Yelton) in the second half to go 2-2, and then we picked back up the energy and for about 38 minutes, I thought we were all over them.”
CCHS kept up their energy with more attempted goals against MCHS, but none were successful. The game ended 2-2, leaving the CCHS varsity boys 4-0-2 this season.
“To get down 2-0 and then to come back and be able tie 2-2 certainly you’re happy that you know you’re able to fight back and not give up. We actually played really well tonight, (but) it didn’t really show on the score. We would have liked to have obviously not only come back, but (also) to win the game,” Aiken said.
Story by Isabella Johnson
Video by Colin Frick
