Murphy – The Lady Bulldogs’ soccer team has opened the season on fire, with two wins against 3A Pisgah (0-5) by scores of 2-1 and 3-0, and a Smoky Mountain Conference win against Cherokee (0-3) 2-1 on Thursday night in Murphy.
The Lady Dogs (4-0, 2-0) are physical, whether they are playing defense or attacking the goal on the other end. Murphy couldn’t find the goal in the first half of the game and gave a goal late in the first half as goalkeeper Emma Ledford seemed to have it stopped, but in just barely slipped out of her fingers and into the net.
Cherokee went into the break with a one goal lead. Ledford protected that goal with a vengeance the rest of the game.
The Lady Bulldogs do not believe in non-contact soccer. Cherokee came into the game known to be a physical team, and the Lady Bulldogs proved to be just as physical. There was a lot of contact as they defended their goal and only allowed the Lady Braves one shot on the goal and that was the one in the first half.
Halie Hill was one Lady Bulldog who knocked it around with the Lady Braves well, as she had 10 steals and an assist in the game. Tina Bui was also a team leader with 10 steals. Tyra Nelson and Shyla Coleman each had nine steals on the night.
Murphy’s offense was relentless in the second half. Lailee Holloway’s first point came at the 58-minute mark to tie the score in the second half, and she scored the winning goal at the 78-minute mark.
Holloway finished the night with two steals and 11 shots, with seven of those being on goal, and the Lady Bulldogs’ two points. Kaydence Walton had seven steals, one shot on goal and one assist. Nina Turner had three steals and a shot on goal.
The Lady Bulldogs will play host to Blue Ridge Early College (0-1) at home at 6 p.m. Thursday.