Caldwell County’s girls took Trigg County’s best shot early, then turned the match around for a 5-1 season-opening victory Monday night at Butler Stadium in Princeton.
A year ago, it was the Lady Wildcats who claimed a 4-1 triumph over the Lady Tigers at the Trigg Recreation Complex. Trigg would go on to post an 18-3 record last season.
But Caldwell returned the favor on Monday, despite Trigg controlling play for much of the first 20 minutes of the contest.
At one point, Trigg held a 9-2 advantage in shots. However, Caldwell led 1-0 thanks to a goal in the 22nd minute by Addie Middleton, who got help from Brooklyn Hillyard to put Caldwell on top.
The Lady Wildcats tied things in the 32nd minute on a long shot from outside the box by Leiah Hite. Her high-arching shot got over Caldwell goalkeeper Abbey Gill to knot things at 1-1.
The Lady Tigers, though, grabbed the lead back just 3 minutes later. Freshmen Nunie Bates and Mariah Vickery hooked up for the goal, with Bates heading the ball to Vickery, who finished in front to give Caldwell a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Tigers then picked up some cushion in the 40th minute, when Middleton scored again just before the break. Her shot got over Trigg keeper Charlstyn Heath and slipped just under the crossbar to send Caldwell to halftime with a 3-1 edge.
A pair of second-half goals from Aliya Towns helped the Lady Tigers put the match away.
Towns scored from in front of the net in the 63rd after a throw-in from Bates.
Towns scored on a breakaway in the 78th minute, with Middleton earning the assist, to extend the margin to 5-1.
Trigg outshot Caldwell 19-11 in the contest, buoyed largely by its dominance early in the match. However, the Lady Tigers generated the better scoring opportunities in the contest.
Gill made 10 saves in the Caldwell net to help the Lady Tigers thwart Trigg’s shot advantage.
Heath had two saves for the Lady Wildcats.
Caldwell improved its lead in the all-time series to 26-1-1.
Trigg’s girls will go to Crittenden County for a 5th District match on Tuesday.
Caldwell is off until the 2nd Region All A Classic next week.
