BY BRITTNI MCCOY
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — Head coach Steven Gauze’s soccer team knows how to win. The Lady Cards hosted and won the first All “A” state tournament game in their history on Sept. 10. Two nights later the squad took down a tough Pikeville team 4-0 to claim the Kentucky Farm Bureau Cup.
Fast forward to Saturday when they mercy-ruled Princeton Senior out of WV 11-1.
Senior leader Laura Hale celebrated after the state tournament win.
“Feels great making history,” she said smiling with her teammates. “We capitalized on a lot of opportunities at the goal tonight. A lot of these girls didn’t see a lot of time last year because we had so many seniors. We started out with some tough games but it helped the team and worked out for the best.”
Coach Gauze scheduled some of the best competition in eastern Kentucky. Since the early three losses, his squad has won eight in a row.
“On paper, we were not supposed to be good this year because I had so many seniors graduate,” he said. “I told the girls last year after the season we could be good. We just have to keep working hard.”
Last year’s team won the 15th Region All “A” Classic championship but fell short in a heartbreaker in the end-of-season 15th Region Tournament championship by one goal to Prestonsburg.
“I take the blame for the losses at the beginning of the season because I scheduled harder teams,” Coach Gauze said. “I wanted them to see that if we can hang with those teams, we can hang with anyone. The girls have bought into it.”
In the state tournament match-up with West Carter, team captain Faith Caldwell booted in all four goals for the Lady Cards.
The fourth goal came with 33 minutes left in the second half. F. Caldwell broke past the West Carter defense and was all on her own. She belted one in from the right side.
Hale assisted on two and Grace Caldwell assisted on one.
Vittoria Dellmotta had four key saves in the goal including a diving stop at the 18:14 mark.
On Thursday night, the Cards hosted the Kentucky Farm Bureau Cup versus Pikeville.
Alexis Sammons sent two into the net. F. Caldwell scored a goal and assisted on one.
Hale netted one and assisted on three goals. Dellmotta had five stops.
Hale and F. Caldwell kicked in four goals each in an 11-1 win over Princeton.
Emily Ledford, G. Caldwell and Chloe Jude booted in one goal each.
Sammons assisted on two and Mia Pree on one. Dellmotta had five saves.
Martin County will travel to Louisville for the Elite 8 rounds of the All “A” Classic on Saturday. They are set to face Bethlehem at 11:30 a.m. at Assumption High School. The winner will take on either Todd County Central or Brown at 6 p.m. The championship game is set for 11 a.m. Sunday at Louisville Collegiate School.