FC girls soccer gets two wins

by Sean Dunlap

The Franklin County High School Lady Soccer Dawgs picked up two more victories last week — prior to their Thanksgiving break — in downing Morton, 4-1, on Monday, Nov. 14 and then blowing past Lawrence County, 7-0, on Thursday, Nov. 17.

FC 4, MORTON 1

For the second time this season, Franklin County defeated Morton in an effort that saw the Lady Dawgs’ offense take 28 shots with 15 shots on goal while the defense made 87 stops to preserve the victory despite playing in a persistent cold rain.

FC scored two goals in the first half and two more after the mid-game break.

“We got off to a sluggish start in the wet conditions, but I felt like we settled down and worked the ball out of pressure, which opened up the attack,” FC Head Soccer Coach Jeff Long said.

“Karlee Wallace and Lilly Hutto were solid in the middle again with Kayleigh Foy coming in and providing a much-needed spark. Brooklynn Cupit was also tough as nails, playing on a painful ankle.”

Foy and Cupit have, most recently, battled injuries that have slowed the duo, but made significant contributions against Morton with a goal apiece in conjunction with three shots and two shots on goal each.

Foy also had an assist for the Lady Soccer Dawgs as did Ken’niya McGowan and Gre’yonne Queen.

Karlee Wallace shined again on offense thanks to a goal on a team-high six shots with three shots on goal and Kaitlyn Fussell added a goal with four shots and three SOG.

Lilly Hutto finished the game with four shots and two shots on goal as Queen recorded three shots and one SOG.

Edniya Gordon had two shots and one shot on goal while Carmon Coleman had a shot and SOG and Kendra Jones and Amberly Wallace had one shot apiece.

Addison Cooper led the Lady Soccer Dawgs with 11 defensive stops as Karlee Wallace added 10 and Hutto tacked on nine.

Other players contributing defensively with their total number of stops included: Braxton Martin, seven; McGowan, seven; Amberly Wallace, six; Coleman, five; Fussell, five; Cupit, four; Queen, four; Foy, four; Marlee Tindle, three; Meg Kelly, three; Savannah Emfinger, two; Jones, two; Gordon, two; Bradi Wallace, two; and Addison Lunsford, one.

Goalkeeper Katherine Romero claimed the FC victory with six saves to her credit while surrendering only one goal in the 80-minute contest.

FC 7,

LAWRENCE COUNTY 0

The Lady Soccer Dawgs were a little shorthanded due to widespread respiratory illnesses, but that didn’t keep the team from claiming its widest margin of victory — 7-0 — over an opponent thus far this season on the road at Lawrence County.

FC scored three times before intermission and four more after the mid-game break to improve to 4-0-1 on its 2022-2023 campaign.

“It was good to see some players step up, fill in and execute,” Long said.

“I thought Marlee Tindle and Meg Kelly were flawless playing as center backs. Also, Amberly (Wallace’s) penalty kick block kept the momentum on our side, and Gre’yonne Queen is becoming an offensive threat and is only going to get better.”

Queen scored three goals against Lawrence County to give the freshman her first-ever hat trick for the Lady Soccer Dawgs. She had six of the team’s 27 total shots and had three of FC’s shots on goal.

Cupit scored twice with six shots on goal as well as an assist and Karlee Wallace and Hutto accounted for one goal each in the win.

Karlee Wallace recorded seven shots and four shots on goal while Hutto had four shots and two SOG.

Others making their presence felt offensively included Fussell, who had four shots and two shots on goal along with an assist; Coleman and Gordon, who each had two shots and one SOG along with an assist apiece; and Foy, who had a shot and SOG.

Defensively, Franklin County collected 63 total stops as Karlee Wallace had a squad-high eight take-aways while McGowan, Hutto, Tindle and Kelly collected seven each.

Additionally, Martin was credited with six stops with Cupit, Coleman and Fussell with four each, Queen chipped in three and Gordon finished with two.

In her first appearance as goalkeeper this season, Amberly Wallace worked the entire 70 minutes of the mercy-rule shortened affair for the shut-out victory with a save to her credit.

• • •

UPCOMING GAMES

The Lady Soccer Dawgs will return to action at home on Tuesday, Nov. 29 with their Class I District 7 opener against Hazlehurst at 5:30 p.m.

Then, on Thursday, Dec. 1, FC is scheduled to travel to face Brookhaven with junior varsity girls action to start at 4 p.m., and varsity girls to follow around 6 p.m.

On Saturday, Dec. 3, Franklin County will travel to the east side of the state to face Enterprise of Clarke County with the JV girls team kicking off at 10 a.m., and varsity girls to follow at noon.



Meadville Methodist Holy Week Luncheons