After scoring 9 goals last season, Trigg County junior Elijah Gaines banged in 6 on Monday night to lead the Wildcats to an 8-4 win over visiting Fort Campbell. Gaines and the Wildcats snap a nine-game losing streak dating back to last season and move to 1-0, while the Falcons slip to 0-1.
Freshman Daniel Jimenez got the Wildcats the early lead with a goal four minutes in, before 4 straight goals from Gaines over the next fifteen minutes for a 5-0 margin. With thirteen minutes left in the half the Falcons came to life, scoring 3 in a row to cut the lead to a couple. Junior Cole Carabaugh and senior Doryan Hall scored in quick succession followed by a penalty kick from junior Jhony Paniague-Solis.
Gaines struck again just before halftime, giving the Wildcats a 6-3 lead. Both defenses tightened up in the second half, but Gaines was on target again to stretch the lead to 4, with sophomore Will Jolly burying a long fee kick for the Wildcats’ final goal. With only seconds remaining, Hall scored the Falcons 4th, pouncing on a loose ball in the 18-yard box and finding the top corner.
Wildcats’ junior goalkeeper Matthew Smith made 3 saves, while Jimenez, senior Daniel Martin and junior Cristian Llarena provided assists.
Trigg County has a week off until Hopkins County Central comes to Cadiz. The Storm beat hosts Todd County Central 5-0 to open their season on Monday. Fort Campbell is on the road again Tuesday, as first-year Falcons’ coach Mike Massie returns to the Stadium of Champions to face the Hopkinsville Tigers. Massie was a long-time assistant coach with the Tigers before taking charge in Fort Campbell.
