Morton led Jr. Lady Cyclones blast Crockett in tourney opener
Published 8:58 am Wednesday, September 28, 2022
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Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Maddix Morton sends the ball toward the net to record a hat trick during Tuesday's opening tournament game against Crockett.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Vella Nave works the ball into the box against a Crockett defender.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
TAD's Isla Grindstaff connects on a goal in the Jr. Lady Cyclone win over Crockett, 9-nil.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Rorie Townsend of T.A. Dugger battles for possession of the ball against a Crockett player on Tuesday.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Caylee Carey sends the ball into the net for the first score of the game for the Jr. Lady Cyclones in the first half.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Liahna Nave sends her first of two scores into the back of the net against the Crockett defense for the Jr. Lady Cyclones.
Star Photo/Ivan Sanders
Maddix Morton blasts a shot to record her golden sombrero on her four-goal outing against Crockett.
STAR CORRESPONDENT
The 2022 Big 8 Middle School soccer tournament kicked off Tuesday as the T.A. Dugger Jr. Lady Cyclones played host to the Crockett Jr. Lady Pioneers on the pitch at Citizens Bank Stadium.
Behind a golden sombrero (four goals) from Maddix Morton, the Jr. Lady Cyclones had little trouble in the opener winning by a 9-nil score.
Coach Samantha Husbands Jr. Lady Cyclones were all business from the opening kick allowing the Jr. Lady Pioneers across the midfield line only a handful of times without any success.
Caylee Carey got the scoring started for TAD when she sent the ball into the back of the net 6:25 into the contest for a 1-nil lead. Isla Grindstaff followed up with the second goal of the first half at the 15:29 minute for the 2-nil edge.
Morton collected her first goal at the 23:43 minute of the half as the Jr. Lady Cyclones took a 3-nil lead to the halftime break.
It didn’t take Morton long to hit her second goal just 1:10 into the second half as TAD started their roll. Vella Nave got into the action as she blasted a kick from 15 yards out to extend the lead to 5-nil at the 38:58 minute.
Morton collected a hat trick at the 43:58 minute followed by her golden sombrero at the 46:47 minute to push the lead to 7-nil.
Liahna Nave closed out the scoring for TAD with two goals with the first one coming at the 49:10 minute and brought the game to an end when she sent the ball past the Crockett goalkeeper at the 52:21 minute.
The win sent the Jr. Cyclones into Wednesday’s second round against Liberty Bell.
“We wanted to win the game to advance and play against Liberty Bell,” said Jr. Lady Cyclone Ava Corum. “I think we played well as we were able to mercy rule them. We didn’t waste a lot of energy so we could be ready to play Liberty Bell. We were aggressive as when they pushed, we pushed back.”
Husbands said that the game was a good momentum builder heading into Wednesday’s contest.
“We lost to Liberty Bell in the regular season as the game was tied 2-2 through the 58:00 minute before a couple of bad calls allowed them to pull away,” said Husbands. “If we continue to play like we have all year which is continuing to improve then I think that we have a great chance to play with them.”
