After defeating Cherokee, the Murphy women’s soccer team is officially in the win column as they wrapped up the first week of the regular season after falling to Smoky Mountain.
The Lady Dogs played their first Smoky Mountain Conference game Thursday, when they traveled to Cherokee to take on the Lady Braves. Murphy came home with a 3-0 victory.
Freshman Deserae Zenobi got the scoring started for the Lady Dogs with their lone goal in the first half. This was Zenobi’s first goal in her high school career.
In the second half, sophomore Haile Hill scored their second goal, as she picked up the rebound on a penalty kick to give them a 2-0 lead. Hill scored her second goal of the goal on a strike from distance from the right wing to secure their first win.
Along with two goals, Hill had eight steals. Zenobi also had three steals, while Tina Bui and Kaydence Walton both had an assist.
Goalkeeper Shyla Serrano-Coleman had her first clean sheet of the season.
Tyra Nelson led the team with 11 steals. Bui and Walton also had eight steals each. Walton had seven steals, Ella Conley had six steals, while Isabel Parker and Faith Lescalleet had five steals each.
Earlier in the week, the Lady Bulldogs kicked off their season by traveling to Sylva to take on Smoky Mountain. The Lady Dogs lost their season opener 5-0 on March 3.
The Lady Dogs will travel to Blue Ridge Early College in Cashiers on Thursday to take on their second conference opponent. On Monday, March 17, they will host Hayesville at 6 p.m. Then on Tuesday, March 18, they will host Union County, Ga., at 6 p.m.
Season preview
Last season, the Lady Dogs finished third in the Smoky Mountain Conference with a conference record of 8-2-2 and an overall record of 11-4-2.
They opened last season with seven straight wins over a mix of SMC and non-conference opponents including in county rivals Tri-County Early College, Hayesville and Cherokee, as well as Pisgah and Smoky Mountain.
Their first loss came at the hands of rivals Swain County, who they later tied with. They also lost to Highlands, who they also tied with in their regular-season finale.
Following a three-game losing streak, they picked up four straight SMC wins before ending the regular season with two draws. Their season came to an end in the first round of the state 1A playoffs against Highland Tech.
The Lady Dogs graduated two seniors last season. Murphy seniors Lailee Holloway – the all-time leading scorer for Murphy soccer – and goalkeeper Emma Ledford were a huge part of their success last season.
This season, they will look to fill those spots and build on their young squad that helped them be successful last year. The Lady Dogs are also welcoming six freshman to the squad this season.
Sophomore Halie Hill notched 10 goals and nine assists last season and will return to the top of the formation this season. Last year’s assists leader, Kaydence Walton, will also return. She had 10 assists in 17 games.’
Last season’s steals leader Isabel Parker is also returning to the pitch for the Lady Dogs. She had 186 steals in 17 games. Four of the five Lady Dogs last season who had more than 100 steals are returning.
Their first home game was Tuesday, March 11, when they hosted Summit Charter after the Cherokee Scout’s press time.
Other notable games include their two matchups with in-county rivals Tri-County Early College on April 3 and April 25. Both games will be at Murphy.
Their games against Swain County and Highlands are always intense. The Lady Dogs will host Swain on March 24, they play host to Highlands for their regular-season finale May 5.