H.S. GIRLS’ SOCCER: Chester County opens with a win

Most teams want to ease into the schedule with an easy opponent in the first match of the season, but not Chester County coach Jason Judd.

Judd put his team up against a two-time Class A-AA state tournament qualifier in Liberty in the opening match of the season Thursday.

The Eaglettes were up to the test, as they defeated the Lady Crusaders 4-2 at home.

“We like to be challenged,” Chester County senior Cameron Greer said. “Playing teams like this allows us to know what we have to work on to get to our ultimate goal, which is state.”

Chester County (1-0) played well in the first 45 minutes, taking a 3-0 lead on goals by Greer, sophomore Paige Pipkin and senior Talia Hinson.

“We knew what we had to come in here and do,” Greer said. “We had to keep our spacing and keep our passes on point and we knew we could outplay them.

“In the beginning we had some jitters, but we worked them out and got on the same page.”

Greer assisted on the second goal.

The Eaglettes were in cruise control. They were using the wings to attack and crossing the ball into the middle, the defense allowed little in their third of the field and the attackers were making the runs needed to find the goal.

Chester County had a 6-1 advantage on shots on goal.

But with 30:48 remaining, Brindy Fuller pulled the Lady Crusaders (0-1) back in the match with a shot from inside the 18-yard box. Fifteen minutes later, Liberty got another goal back as Amber Byrd juked a defender and scored to narrow the Chester County lead to 3-2.

“We panicked,” Judd said. “I told them just to calm down. We have dealt with this the last couple of weeks, even in practice, we just panic.

“It cost us at least one of the goals.”

With 2:47 left, Chester County sophomore Madelyn Miskelly scored to put the game away on a cross from senior Cami Melaro.

“But to bring a team in here like Liberty, who has made two straight state tournament appearances, I will take that win,” Judd said. “We are fundamentally solid, Destiny [Morris] is going to be good in the back and we are going to be able to score some goals. We just have to get our defense together in the back.”

Both teams reached the Class A-AA sectionals last year with Chester County falling to Jackson Christian 1-0. Liberty beat Dyersburg 2-0.

Michael Odom, 425-9754