Warren Central soccer blanks Ridgeland

Published 12:22 am Saturday, December 10, 2016

Warren Central’s girls’ soccer team took the field Friday night in freezing temperatures ready to get a victory after four tough games against highly ranked opponents and before the team heads into division play this weekend.

They left happy.

The Lady Vikes scored four times in the first half and beat Ridgeland 4-0 Friday at Viking Stadium. Warren Central (4-5-1) snapped a four-game losing streak in which it had not scored a goal.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

“We probably had Ridgeland overmatched a little bit. We were really trying to work on our game and get a little bit better with mixed results,” Warren Central coach Jay Madison said.

Senior Amanda Boleware scored the first two goals of the night, and sophomore Laney Smith had two assists.

Boleware’s first goal came on an assist from Smith, and her second was on the rebound of a missed save by the Ridgeland keeper. Smith’s second assist was on the third goal, which was scored by Taylor Smith.

The final goal of the night came right before halftime in the 38th minute by Katelyn Morson, with an assist by Allie Barnes. The Lady Vikes had 16 total shots on goal.

Madison said he is still working to find the best combination of players on his team and has been trying out a lot of different options over the past few games. He has a few players coming back from injury that he’s trying to acclimate back into the lineup.

“We’re still trying to find out what our best combination is, and so I’ve basically been working on that all year. Some of it is due to injuries. Folks out that are just now starting to come back, we’re trying to get them in the mix,” Madison said.

The team’s starters played during the first half, including keeper Anna Hoben who had three saves. In the second half, Madison put in mostly junior varsity players and subbed Megan Garner in at keeper. She had two saves to preserve the shutout.

Madison said the team is coming off four tough games against regionally ranked opponents — Richaland, Northwest Rankin, Ocean Springs and Germantown — and said they wouldn’t find out where they really stand until Saturday’s division opener at Greenville.

“It’s good to get a win. That always helps,” he said.

(B) Warren Central 3, Ridgeland 0

Hunt Holdiness assisted on a goal in the first half, and the scored two of his own in the second to lead Warren Central past Ridgeland.

The Vikings (8-1) posted their seventh shutout of the season. Ridgeland (3-7-1) had 10 shots, but only three were on frame. All were saved by WC keeper Chase Graham.

In the 27th minute, Holdiness sent a through ball from the defensive end of the field ahead to Braylen Greer, who scored to put the Vikings up 1-0.

Holdiness later headed in a corner kick from Dillon Green in the 61st minute and scored off a cross from Sean Dixon in the 72nd.

(B) St. Aloysius 10, Canton Academy 0

Connor Bottin had three goals and an assist, and three other players scored two goals apiece as St. Aloysius (5-1) hammered Canton Academy on Friday.

Gradon Bourne and Kieran Theriot each had two goals and two assists for the Flashes, and Ryan Theriot had one goal and one assist. Justin Ehrgott scored two goals and assisted on four others, giving him 11 assists in St. Al’s last two games.

The Flashes will host Washington School Monday at 5 p.m. in their last game before the holiday break.