Callaway breezes to win in region opener
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, February 24, 2016
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HOGANSVILLE – Neither Haralson County, or a soggy field, was going to slow down the Callaway High girls’ soccer team.
Facing Haralson County in its Region 5-AAA opener on Tuesday, Callaway eased to a 10-0 victory to improve to 3-0 overall.
Callaway’s boys’ team was also supposed to play Haralson County on Tuesday, but that game had to be postponed because of a severe storm.
As soon as the girls’ game ended, a heavy rain moved in, and the decision was made to postpone the boys’ game.
There was no suspense in the girls’ game.
Haralson County’s girls’ team has made progress in its second year of existence, but it was no match for Callaway.
The Lady Cavaliers surged to a 6-0 halftime lead, and once they notched their 10th goal in the second half the game was called because of the mercy rule.
It was good timing.
Moments after Callaway notched the 10th goal, the storm moved in, and everyone hustled off the field.
On Thursday, Callaway has a critical region game at Central-Carroll, and since that game will likely be played on a messy field, head coach Kristen Clonts felt Tuesday’s game was good preparation.
“It was good practice, because Thursday we play Central-Carroll,” Clonts said. “That’ll be a higher level of competition, and it may be very similar field conditions, as far as it being wet and slippery. It was good for us to play in those types of conditions.”
Callaway’s leading scorer this season, Savannah Thompson, found the net with frequency in Tuesday’s game with six goals.
Kelly Carlisle added a hat trick with three goals, and Acia Stephens notched one goal, and Chloe McGuffin had a handful of assists.
While the game was a mismatch, Clonts said Haralson County’s program is making progress.
“They’ve improved some,” Clonts said. “This is only their second year of having a team. I think they have a good coach that’s helping them grow. They were giving us a run for our money for a little while, and then we got our groove, and that was all she wrote.”
Clonts is in her first season as Callaway’s head coach, and she didn’t get a chance to start to get to know the players until preseason practice, which began a few days before the first game.
“I hadn’t spent as much time with them (before practice),” Clonts said. “My assistant, Shawna Yawn, she worked with them all summer. It took me a little while to get to know them, and build a relationship with them.”
Clonts said getting to know the players has been a joy.
“I think we’re a good team, and the girls are awesome,” she said. “They’re just goofy as all get out and have a good time together. They’re positive, and they get out there and they went to lead a prayer on their own. I’m all for it. Get out there and have your prayer before the game. They’re a good group of kids.”
Callaway’s boys’ team will put its 3-0 record on the line when it opens its region schedule with Thursday’s game at Central-Carroll.
The Cavaliers remained perfect with Friday’s impressive 2-0 win over Chapel Hill on Friday.
If the Cavaliers win on Thursday, they’ll match last year’s win total in just their fourth game of the season.
Reach Kevin Eckleberry at (706) 884-7311 or on Twitter @lagrangesports