By Mike Blackerby editor@oakridgesports.com
Wildcats’ soccer team still had more than enough to upend Farragut, 1-0. Senior Courtney Brackins’ straight-away goal (Rachel Johnson assist) from 20 yards out at the 26:23 mark of the first half proved to be the difference as Oak Ridge ran its record to 7-0 at the expense of the longtime nemesis Lady Admirals. Farragut, No. 11 in the state, drops to 6-3. “It feels really good,” said Brackins, a two-year starter for OR. “It really wasn’t that good a game for us. I’d give us about a ‘seven.’” Although Oak Ridge’s goal came in the first half, the Lady Wildcats actually controlled the tempo much better in the second half as they spent most of the final 40 minutes on Farragut’s end of the field. The Lady Admirals managed to get off only three shots on goal in the first half and had but eight on the night. Oak Ridge didn’t set any records for shots on goal either as it had only 11. “I thought there would be more (shots on goal),” said Sheppard, whose girls return to action Sept. 12 (7:30) at home against Powell. “I thought we’d be able to get in there and get more shots. But, with the big field and the way the defenses were playing it held things in check. I didn‘t think we were clicking as well as we were last weekend (in the Katie Hunter Invitational).” Two of Farragut’s few scoring opportunities were thwarted by OR keeper Rebekah Dotson in the last 10 minutes of the first half. The Lady Wildcats ramped up the pressure on Farragut in the final 20 minutes as Oak Ridge had four legitimate scoring chances or looks. Brackins’ corner kick hit the top of the bar and bounded into the top of the net at the 61:46 mark. Seven minutes later, Jamie Grigsby bounced a shot in front of goal that was scooped up by the Farragut keeper. Inside of six minutes, OR’s Thanh Lay misfired on a head shot in front of the goal. Trenna Howell, after getting a nice feed from Maggie Alexander, was also just wide on an attempt with the clock winding down. Sheppard said the victory is not only another notch in the win-loss belt, but a big boost mentally. After all, there was a time when wins over Farragut by Oak Ridge didn’t exactly grow on trees. “It was typical Oak Ridge-Farragut. Just to get a game under our belt with Farragut is important. It gives us a psychological advantage.” |
Lady Wildcat Soccer
