The Lady Purple Hurricanes improved to 6-1 in Region 7-AAA, 7-4 overall.
“Sydney James truly is one of the best goalkeepers in our area,” head coach Roger Lowe said. “She made two great saves for us to put the game out of reach.”
Cartersville and Southeast were both unable to score in regulation and in the two 5-minute periods that followed, pushing the game to the feet of their penalty kickers.
The Lady Canes hit four penalty kicks while Southeast hit two. Hitting their shots were Stefanie Will, Molly Acuff, Mia Robinson and Meredith Holmes.
“Southeast Whitfield is a good team, Lowe said. They were fast and had good skills.”
He said Will, Kaeli McDermott and Holmes controlled the middle of the field for Cartersville.
He also cited the work of Acuff, Makaylie Gibbs and Alex and Victoria Everhart. “Our defense has played well. They’ve played well all season.”
The coach said a Friday matchup with Heritage High now looms even larger for Cartersville as it could hold the key to a home game in the state playoffs should the Lady Canes find a way to defeat its other region foes.
Heritage had an 8-1 overall record entering the evening with a 6-1 region mark. It is ranked No. 9 in the state.
Lowe said regardless of the outcome of the season, Cartersville has done well.
“We have a lot of young players and it’s been a very good year no matter what happens from here. Of course it doesn’t hurt when you’ve got the region’s best goalie. She can make up for a lot of ills.”
Excel falls to Mount Paran
Excel Christian Academy came up short against Mount Paran in high school tennis play on Tuesday.
The Excel girls split their doubles matches and fell in singles play, 4-1.
For the Lady Eagles, Moriah Hibbard was defeated 6-0, 6-3, at the No. 1 singles slot; Miriam Hibbard lost 6-0, 6-0, at the No. 2 singles position; and Katherin Harris was beaten 6-0, 6-0, in the No. 3 singles post.
At the No. 1 doubles position, Caroline Moore and Taylor Vaughn won 2-6, 6-4, 15-13; while Abby Keefe and Becky Lockridge were on the wrong end of a 6-0, 6-4 result at No. 2 doubles.
The Eagles lost their matches, 5-0.
At the No. 1 position, Ben Perkins fell 6-1, 6-0; No. 2 slot, Mason Rudder lost 6-0, 6-1, and No. 3 line, Stephen Barton fell 6-0, 6-4.
In doubles No. 1 play, Andrew Tyree and LaChaz Phillips fell 6-1, 6-2; and Jake Newhouse and Taylor Wood lost 6-0, 6-1.