Lady Champs learn lesson in opener

Cascade's Kathleen Lohay tries to thread a ball between Lincoln County defenders. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

It wasn't the result they hoped for but Cascade's 4-2 season-opening loss to Lincoln County on Tuesday provided them with a blueprint of sorts for what to work on before they get too deep into their schedule.

The Lady Champions entered with a little swagger after demolishing competition throughout Saturday's Bell Buckle Jam. Lincoln County took it upon itself to bring the Orange and Black down a notch.

"I knew tonight would be an eye-opener," first-year Cascade coach Monica Lewis said. "Sometimes when you're up there, even at the beginning of the season, you need to come down to get a look to really see where we are. We were good Saturday, but we're not perfect."

Ashley Bledsoe took an assist from Mary Saylors to give the Lady Champs their first goal, but they trailed at halftime thanks to scores from Lady Falcon Lauren Lee in minutes 20 and 26.

The score stayed 2-1 until less than 10 minutes remained in the match as the teams played more and more aggressively as the final three whistles neared.

"It was a very rough, physical, verbal game," Lewis said.

Brittany Johnson's goal in the 73rd minute gave Lincoln County some cushion at 3-1.

Cascade answered right back when Kathleen Lohay dropped in a goal off a free kick in minute 76.

Mary Saylors boots a shot at the goal for the Lady Champions. (T-G Photo by Danny Parker) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Callie Clendenon's twine thinner with just 44 seconds remaining gave the game its final tally.

Lewis said her team worked in practice on their drops, improved their passing throughout the match and got off scoring attempts whenever they got the ball in or near the penalty box.

"Once we got it, we took some shots, but we just weren't getting it down there fast enough," she said.

The Lady Champs open up their District 11-A/AA slate at Cornersville on Thursday at 5:30.

Lewis is searching for another game or two for the schedule as Boyd Christian recently dropped their girls soccer team.