You could actually call it a comeback as the Calvary Lady Cavaliers defeated the Huntington Lady Raiders 8-1 at Jerry Barker Stadium on Thursday night. Calvary peppered Huntington’s goalkeeper for 21 shots for the night. Pamela Lee picked up a hat trick for the Lady Cavaliers. Carson Davis netted two goals. “I don’t know what to expect because we let teams hang around. Technically, it was a come from behind win even though it was an 8-1 game,” Coach Adam Hester said. “We’ve got to get better at things like when we have a man advantage and making every goalkeeper that we play look like they are getting all-district stats. We’re not placing the ball very well. However, we played them last year twice and the games were 3-0 and 5-1. We scored 37 goals as a team last year. After tonight, we have 46 as a team through 12 games. Actually, before Christmas, we’ve exceeded our goals. Our leading goal last year was 11 and the only girl we had in double digits. After tonight, we have three with 12 goals apiece. The improvement is obvious. What we’re finally getting through to them they’re doing. So it’s there for them to see. It’s now a consistency type of thing. I’m proud of them. We’ve got a lot of work to do”
The Lady Cavs started firing shots in the beginning but just wasn’t passing the goal line. Carson Davis shot in the 2nd minute from the side and the ball trailed right in front of the goal line but never crossed the plane. In the 10th minute, Skylar Odom shot was barely deflected off the goalkeeper’s right foot. Just a minute later, Pamela Lee overshot the crossbar and out of bounds. Even a chance by Hallie Brown on a penalty kick in the 15th minute was blocked. The shots were flying but nothing hit the back of the net.
Huntington got the ball midfield and Shanice Snell caught Cavalier goalkeeper Kaylin Little in pursuit of the ball and kicked the ball over her head. Little was in pursuit but not fast enough as the Lady Raiders took the early 1-0 lead in the 15th minute.
That was enough for Calvary as they found the target. Skylar Odom fired a shot from the top of the box to tie the match at 1-1 in the 18th minute. Pamela made her first goal in the 24th minute as she netted the deflected shot from the goalkeeper to take the lead.
Odom tried to catch a second goal as her two opportunities were batted away by Huntington.
A confusing play for the Lady Cavaliers in the 29th minute as they were set up for a penalty kick and then stopped before kicking. The referee reset the shot to a free kick right outside the box. Didn’t stop Calvary as Hallie Brown with an assist by Kailey Brookshire made the score 3-1.
Pamela Lee punted a midfield shot over the Huntington goalkeeper in the 35th minute to gain her second goal for the evening.
Kailey Brookshire closed out the first half with a goal in the closing minutes of the first half as Calvary led 5-1.
Carson Davis scored back to back goals at the start of the second half. Davis shot from the side found the back corner of the net for her first. Skylar Odom set up Davis for the second with a pass to the top of the box. Davis rocketed the shot into the net to give Calvary the 7-1 lead in the 50th minute.
The final goal came from a 30-yard rocket that sailed over the goalkeeper perfectly past the goal line into the back of the net for the 8-1.
In the win tonight, Kailey Brookshire picked up two assists. Skylar Odom and Pamela Lee each got one.
With the win, the Lady Cavalier (8-4-0) now get to enjoy the Christmas Break and do not compete until January 7 when they travel to Monroe to play Ouachita Parish. According to Hester, they need this break. “This break will be good for them. When we come back, we will have a flood of games. I think we have nine games in January. The practice time won’t be as plentiful, but we’ll get some good work over the break. We will be able to rest and that’s good. There are some soreness and tiredness. I’ve got one girl playing five sports. We’ve got three of them doing basketball, soccer, and powerlifting. So they will have some time to heal up with a few days off. I’m looking forward to it for them because they do need the rest.”
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