The girls varsity soccer team marked the first home game after winter break with a 8-0 win against Tohopekaliga,  elevating the team to a 10-2 record.
“At the start of the match I thought that we would win the game, but we couldn’t underestimate the other team because a lot can change in 80 minutes,” midfielder Estelle Cachat said. 

The pace of the game was set within the first two minutes as right wing Kily Keegan played a cross in for Cachat to score the opening goal. Cachat scored the next goal assisted by striker Emma Canty, bringing the score to 2-0 before the first water break. With starter Reagan Fitzgerald out due to quarantine, Cachat stepped up to help the team control the ball in the middle and press on the attack. 

“I wasn’t nervous because people miss games all the time and you don’t really think about it as filling in for someone, more like doing your part to help the teamGoFan,” Cachat said. 

Tohopekaliga struggled to counter Hagerty’s passing in the mid-field and through balls played to the outside wingers on attack. Canty’s speed and strength also helped to dominate Tohopekaliga’s defensive line amassing Canty an assist and two goals.

“My role as a striker is not only to score, but to be able to read the field and not try to dribble through the defense. Instead, I try to see who is open on the wings or to do a simple layoff pass behind me,” Canty said. 

After their second loss this season to Bishop Moore last Tuesday with a score of 3-0, the team was ready to come out and defend their winning streak on their home field. 

“It’s an eye opener about what the next level of play is and shows us what things we need to work towards – luckily we improved for the next game and worked on our weaknesses,” Keegan said. 

Finishing the first half with a 3-0 lead, the team focused on connecting passes and communicating to solidify the win with the five remaining goals needed to get the mercy rule. Getting a penalty kick within the first 10 minutes of  the second half Canty got her second goal of the game. Defender Sierra Youngblood finished the game early getting the last two goals of the game to bring the score to 8-0. 

“In our game against Bishop Moore we lacked our spark that we usually have, and we wanted to regain that this game,” Canty said. “I think that in our game against Toho, we did exactly that, played extremely well and took more shots on goal in one game than we have in most.” 

The team faces off next against Lake Howell at home on Jan. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $3 for students and $5  for adults and can be purchased at GoFan.

Gallery | 8 Photos

photo by Matthew Dearolph

Canty breaks through defensive line to take a shot on goal.