Cats hold on for 1-0 win

Despite an unexpected early-round playoff defeat and losing nine seniors, the varsity Wildcats can look forward to members of the junior varsity team stepping up next year. The junior Cats also had a perfect district record, 14-0, and recorded a 24-2 season mark. Members of the JV team pictured above are Drew Flynn, Nick Kunzman, Hunter Howard, Seth Cashion, Brady Attaway, Judd Jackson, Tanner Fedell, Alex Danforth, Justin Keller, Justin Wood, Blake Anglin, Braden McDaniel and Justin Mayfield. The JV head coach is Jason Shuck.

With the outcome of last Friday's contest with Athens most likely playing a key role in the district race, as the Cats won the first match-up 2-1 at home, the contest in Athens proved to be a test of who could score first and hold the lead as both teams were playing their hearts out.

The first half was a defensive test as both teams had equal shots on goal. The Cats put together some awesome passing, and Howard Rodriguez took the ball away from a Hornet player and was off to the races until about 20 yards from the goal when he was taken down from behind setting up a free kick. The Hornets put four players in their wall as Paul Metzner was set to take the kick for the Cats. Metzner punched a low rocket that found a hole in the Hornet wall and went into the left corner of the goal for the game-breaking goal with just 5:45 left in the first half.

The second half seemed to move slowly as both teams fought but the Cats were able to keep the Athens from scoring despite the Hornets firing shot after shot. Justin Parker made several impressive saves to record his 11th shutout of the season.

JV teams scoreless

The Cats hoped to revenge an earlier lost to the Hornets, and they played well, keeping the Hornets from scoring the entire game. The Cats outshot the Hornets 7 to 4 but they just couldn't score, with their best chance coming with just seconds left on the clock.

Travis Lowthorp recorded his 9th shutout of the season. The Cats overall record is 8-3-2 and 5-1-2 in district.

- Reported by Mark Hays