Lady Soccer Dawgs top Loyd Star, Wesson to go 7-0 in district

Franklin County’s varsity Lady Soccer Dawgs continued their winning ways last week by slipping past Loyd Star, 3-1, on Thursday, Jan. 12 and blanking Wesson, 7-0, two days earlier.

The soccer squad is setting a blistering pace in Mississippi High School Activities Association Class I District 7 play with a 7-0 regional record while improving to 12-2-2 overall headed into the final week of the regular season.

FC 3, LOYD STAR 1

Despite an early score by the visiting Lady Hornets in last Thursday’s contest at the Dawg House, Franklin County scored twice in the first half and once more after intermission to claim a 3-1 win over Loyd Star — thus sweeping last season’s Class I District 7 champion.

FC’s Edniya Gordon scored first to tie things up thanks to a through ball from Brooklynn Cupit and the Lady Soccer Dawgs took the lead when Karlee Wallace connected off a cross from Kaitlyn Fussell.

The third goal — with roughly 12 minutes left in regulation — came on a 35-yard lob by Braxton Martin with Wallace credited with an assist.

In all, Franklin County had 17 shots and 10 shots on goal against Loyd Star with Wallace and Cupit both having four shots and two SOG apiece.

Gre’yone Queen finished with three shots and two shots on goal while Lilly Hutto and Fussell finished with two shots and one SOG each.

Martin and Gordon both had a single shot and shot on goal for the Lady Soccer Dawgs.

Defensively, FC collected 85 defensive stops against the Lady Hornets as Ken’niya McGowan gained a game-high 13 take-aways while teammate Addison Cooper added 11 in the victory.

Others contributing to the defensive effort and their stop totals included: Karlee Wallace, nine; Martin, Hutto and Amberly Wallace, eight each; Marlee Tindle, seven; Cupit, five; Queen, Fussell and Meg Kelly, four apiece; Carmon Coleman, three; and Gordon, one.

“We knew Loyd Star was going to come out and give us a tough match,” FC Head Soccer Coach Jeff Long said. “They came at us early and put us on our heels and I was very pleased how we responded.

“Edniya gave us a huge lift with her goal, which turned the momentum in our favor. Also, Marlee and Ken’niya did a great job defensively on two very talented players. Overall, our effort and execution were very good and I’m proud of the girls for taking back control of District 7.” 

Goalkeeper Katherine Romero had seven saves to help preserve Franklin County’s win.

FC 7, WESSON 0

Franklin County scored an impressive 7-0, mercy-rule-shortened win at home on Tuesday, Jan. 10 against the Wesson Lady Cobras.

Cupit scored three goals — good enough for a hat trick — in the first half and tacked on another for good measure in the second half to have one of her best offensive games of the season thus far.

Other FC players finding the net included Queen, Fussell and Karlee Wallace, who also had three assists for the Lady Soccer Dawgs.

In addition, Queen had two assists and Hutto was credited with one in the victory.

Franklin County had 31 shots and 15 shots on goal against Wesson with Cupit exploding for nine shots and six SOG and Karlee Wallace earning seven shots and two SOG.

Queen finished with six shots and three shots on goal and Hutto had four shots and two SOG.

Fussell and Gordon had three and two shots, respectively, with one shot on goal apiece.

The Lady Soccer Dawgs saw 63 defensive stops in the contest as Cooper and Amberly Wallace had eight each and Karlee Wallace and McGowan finished with seven apiece.

Hutto and Tindle saw six take-aways each while Coleman added five and Kelly and Fussell recorded four apiece.

Cupit and Queen collected three stops each and Gordon and Kendra Jones chipped in one apiece.

Romero, in collecting the keeper’s shut-out, was credited with a pair of saves.

“The girls dominated from start to finish, and we were outstanding on both ends,” Long said. “Our defense continued to play well. Brooklynn was on fire tonight and I thought Marlee did an outstanding job stepping in at our left back position.

Also, Gre’yone is becoming a serious scoring threat. Karlee and Lilly dominated midfield play and found teammates at the right times.”