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Lady Patriots score win over Salem
HeritageGirls
Heritage High School invited all of its alumni soccer players to the Salem/Heritage matches Friday at Charles Evans Field against Salem. - photo by Phil Manson

Sophomore forward Faith Shelton scored two goals, assisted on three others and goalies Mady Carter and Kylie Kersh posted a clean sheet as the Heritage Lady Patriots soccer team scored early and often Friday night, defeating the Salem Lady Seminoles 8-0 in a Region 8-AAAAA match on Alumni Night at Heritage’s Charles Evans Field.

With the victory, Heritage improved to 10-3 on the season and a perfect 6-0 in the region. Salem fell to 2-7, 1-6 in region play.

“I’m very pleased,” Heritage coach Chad Suddeth said. “I thought we were active; we got everybody involved and played well off of each other.”

Heritage got on the board less than five minutes into the game as senior defender Ray Brown put the Lady Patriots up 1-0 on a rebound off of a free kick.

Shelton scored the first of her two goals at the 33:07 mark, giving the Lady Patriots a 2-0 lead.

Freshman midfielder Jessica Long, who also scored two goals, got her first with 23:37 remaining in the first half, as she gathered in a rebounded shot and drilled the ball past Salem keeper Chelsea Booker for a 3-0 lead.

Sophomore forward Sara Boggus scored her lone goal of the match as she took beautiful crossing pass on the fly from Shelton and smashed the ball home for a 4-0 lead with 19:29 remaining in the half.

Fifty-nine seconds later, Shelton added her second goal on a breakaway, extending the Lady Patriot’s lead to 5-0. 

Long scored her second goal at the 12:11 mark, pushing the lead to 6-0. 

Boggus and Shelton were at it again with 4:45 to go in the half as Boggus scored her second goal on another crossing pass from Shelton, giving the Lady Patriots a 7-0 lead going into the locker room at the half.

Because Heritage led 7-0, the second half was shortened to 20 minutes. 

Salem Coach Andre Johnson’s team played much better in the abbreviated half, but the Lady Patriots’ 7-0 lead was insurmountable.

“It’s a little tough,” Johnson said. “Congratulations to Heritage. They deserved that win today. We definitely didn’t play our best game today.”

Senior goalie Mady Carter, who will play collegiately at Kennesaw State, moved to forward in the second half and scored Heritage’s final goal of the match with 7:24 remaining, giving the Lady Patriots the final 8-0 margin of victory.

Salem hosts Rockdale Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Heritage returns to the pitch Thursday as they host the fourth-ranked Gainesville Lady Red Elephants. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.