Eaglettes celebrate Senior Night with win

Shelbyville junior Taylor Bearden (back) and Lincoln County's Kaytlin Hall battle for the ball. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

It was Senior Night and Shelbyville Central didn't disappoint the soon-to-be graduates as the Golden Eaglettes rolled to a 5-2 win over visiting Lincoln County in a District 8-AAA soccer match Thursday.

The Eaglettes (8-4-1, 3-0-1 8-AAA) will attempt to claim the regular season district title with a win or tie at Columbia on Monday night.

"Monday night's game at Columbia is huge. Of course we want to win the district outright but it'd nice to know that if we tie with Columbia we still will win the district with all the tiebreakers," Shelbyville coach Neal Gordon said. "I hope we come out and play with a little more urgency and with more intensity than we did tonight."

Senior Kayla Anderson scored four goals while junior Kali Hayse scored the other for the Eaglettes. Hayse also had two assists.

A pair of Anderson goals put the Eaglettes up before Kaytlin Hall found the back of the net for the Lady Falcons.

Hayse scored her goal late in the first half to give Shelbyville a 3-1 advantage at the break.

Eaglette senior Rachel Imes takes control of the ball. (T-G Photo by Gary Johnson) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

"I didn't want to be too negative up 3-1 at halftime, but I wasn't very pleased with the way we played in the first half," Gordon said. "I told the girls to go out and play to their ability in the second half and don't worry about the score. It's a week before the district tournament, and we need to be playing our best soccer at this point of the season."

The Eaglettes scored twice in the first 17 minutes of the second half before Brittany Johnson launched a 40-foot shot into the back of the net for Lincoln County.

Shelbyville had three times as many shots on goal but Lady Falcon goalie Abby Grimes had a steady game in the net.

Central senior Shelby Lamb also turned in a fine performance in goal.

The Eaglette defense has only allowed five goals to go along with a pair of shutouts in district play.

Anderson, Lamb, Emily Cook and Rachel Imes were honored before with game.

"Our four seniors have provided great leadership for us and I know this was a special night for them and their families," Gordon said. "They help make up the spine of our team. Lamb is in goal, Cook is a defender, Imes works the midfield and Anderson is a scorer up front. We will be counting on their leadership as we enter the postseason."