The Lady Bears Varsity Soccer team opened their season with non-regional matches against Forsyth Central, Roswell, Milton and Etowah, securing three wins and enduring one loss during that stretch.
The Lady Bears opened their season with a 3-0 victory over former regional foe Forsyth Central on Wednesday, Feb. 8th. The Lady Bears controlled play throughout the match en route to the victory with goals scored by Hannah Behner (2) and Amanda Feely. The shutout was secured behind a defense led by center backs Jamie Hlebec and Mary Koch and goalkeepers Hannah Morrone and Reagan Dunwoodie.
The Lady Bears closed out their first week of non-regional play with a 5-2 loss to Roswell on Friday, Feb. 10th, in a match that saw two closely-matched teams competing in the first half followed by a second half in which Roswell converted on a number of chances that broke the score open. The Lady Bears had a difficult time settling into their normal rhythm as they looked to shake off some early season rust while Roswell was very opportunistic with the scoring chances that they created. Cambridge goals were scored by Amanda Feely and Charlotte Teeter.
In their 3rd match in seven days, the Lady Bears hosted the Eagles from cross-town rival Milton High School on Tuesday, Feb. 14th. The Lady Bears looked far more settled than in their prior match against Roswell but were unable to find the scoring touch in the first half; they did, however, hold Milton scoreless as well and went to halftime with the score knotted at zero. The Lady Bears took a 1-0 lead early in the 2nd half as Carly Shayne tucked the ball into the net off a scramble in the box following a well-taken free kick by Amy Pollmann. The celebration was short-lived as Milton equalized almost immediately following the ensuing kickoff. The Lady Bears regained the lead on another free kick from Amy Pollmann that resulted in a rebound that was picked up and finished by Jamie Hlebec. The Lady Bears held on for the remaining 20 minutes for the win but left with several injuries (Sofia Black and Charlotte Teeter) that they'll be hoping for speedy recoveries on as they ramp up for regional play.
The Lady Bears wrapped up a busy two week stretch as they traveled to Etowah on Thursday, Feb. 16th. The Lady Bears' defense (led by defenders Mary Koch, Jamie Hlebec, Kiely Gaertner and Tyra Quam and goalkeepers Hannah Morrone and Reagan Dunwoodie) tallied their second shutout of the season en route to a 1-0 victory. The lone goal was scored by Leigh Hamblin (assisted by Jamie Hlebec) as she volleyed a bouncing ball past the Etowah goalkeeper. Reagan Dunwoodie made a couple of close range saves to snuff out the couple of scoring chances that Etowah created in the second half as the Lady Bears held on for the win to go 3-1 on the season.
The Lady Bears will continue their season when they play Wesleyan (at Cambridge) on Friday, February 24 and then open regional play as they host Pope on Tuesday, February 28.
Go Lady Bears!
