BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
GATLINBURG — Martin County went to the Great Smoky Mountains looking for a challenge and came home carrying a championship trophy.
The Lady Cardinals swept three Tennessee opponents over the weekend to win the Smoky Mountain Cup at Rocky Top Sports Park in Gatlinburg.
Martin County defeated Portland 8-2 Aug. 28, blanked Jefferson County 7-0 Saturday and closed the weekend with a win over Fairview 10-1 Sunday.
The three victories pushed the Lady Cards to a perfect 8-0 on the season.
After the tournament, MaxPreps ranked Martin County No. 9 in Kentucky and No. 1 in the 15th Region.
Coach Steven Gauze wanted to see how his squad would respond against higher-level competition.
“The Smoky Mountain Cup is one of the nation’s largest high school soccer tournaments with different levels of competition,” Gauze said. “I wanted to go last year and couldn’t, but we were able to compete this year. I wanted to challenge our team, so I signed up for higher division competition and was matched up against three teams from Tennessee.”
Martin County responded by outscoring its three opponents 25-3 while handing out 24 assists.
Faith Caldwell turned in another monster stretch, leading the team with 12 goals and 10 assists for 34 points.
Annaleigh Davis poured in eight goals and added three assists.
Jaz Jude finished with three goals and four assists.
Hope Caldwell scored once and dished out six assists.
Anna Hinkle added a goal and Madelyn Goble recorded an assist.
“I really wanted to see how we would respond to being put under pressure both on offense and defense,” Gauze said. “I was very happy with the girls. They really stepped their game up.”
MC 8, Portland 2
Martin County opened tournament play Friday with an 8-2 win over Portland.
Davis caught fire with five goals and an assist for 11 points.
Faith Caldwell scored twice and set the table for her teammates with five assists. She finished with nine points.
Jude added a goal and an assist. Goble handed out an assist.
Martin County totaled eight goals and eight assists.
Brianna Muncy was tested more than usual between the posts and responded with eight saves. She allowed only two goals and finished with an .800 save percentage.
The added pressure was exactly what Gauze wanted his team to experience.
“We definitely were on defense a lot more than normal and even gave up some goals,” Gauze said. “The back four kept playing tough and started communicating better, which held the other teams to only two goals. Not bad considering the teams were very good.”
MC 7, JC 0
The Lady Cards returned to the pitch Saturday, posting their lone shutout of the weekend 7-0 over Jefferson County.
Faith Caldwell led the charge with four goals and two assists for 10 points.
Jude found the back of the net and added an assist.
Davis also finished with a goal and an assist.
Hinkle knocked in a goal.
Hope Caldwell handed out two assists.
MC 10, Fairview 1
Martin County posted its biggest offensive output Sunday. The Lady Cards rolled past the Fairview Yellowjackets 10-1 to complete the three-game sweep and claim the Smoky Mountain Cup championship.
Faith Caldwell was all over the pitch with six goals and three assists.
Davis scored twice and added an assist.
Jude finished with a goal and two assists.
Hope Caldwell scored once and dished out four assists.
The Lady Cards finished the championship match with assists on all 10 goals.
Despite the final margins, Gauze said the competition made Martin County work for its opportunities.
“Offensively, we were really tested,” he said. “The teams had organized defenses that kept us out of the goal early in the game. But the girls kept moving the ball and stayed on the attack till we wore down the other team. Final scores may look like it was an easy game, but it definitely was not.”
The Lady Cards have now outscored their opponents 71-4 through eight games this season.
For Gauze, the championship meant even more than the Lady Cards’ perfect start.
“Ultimately, I couldn’t be more proud of the team,” he said. “To represent our small school at a big tournament and walk away holding the championship trophy at the end is the best thing a coach could ask for.”
Martin County will return to the pitch Sept. 5 at the Woodford County Soccer Complex.
The Lady Cards will look to defend their 15th Region All “A” title next week in Prestonsburg. They will take on Belfry at 6 p.m.