SPORTS

H.S. SOCCER: Madison beats TCA for 4th straight win

Michael Odom

The last week of the regular season for the Madison girls' soccer team is now. The Lady Mustangs want to end the regular season on a better note than they started the season, and thus far that has been successful.

On Monday, Madison beat Trinity Christian Academy 4-0 at University of Memphis at Lambuth to win its fourth straight match of the season.

"They have put in the work," Madison coach Jacob Long said. "We had a rough start, and if the season was flipped, we might have different results. I am proud of the seniors. We are unlucky not to be the No. 1 seed in the district, but I think that is more motivation for the tournament."

Madison lost the first three games of the year against tough competition, but with the four-game winning streak, the Lady Mustangs are now 8-6 and the No. 2 seed from the East Division of District 15 A-AA.

The Lady Mustangs scored twice in the first half, and Brittany Bray was a part of both goals on attack.

The first goal came seven minutes in as senior Mandy Wilson assisted on a Bray goal that was scored from 20 yards out and put in the upper corner.

The second came 10 minutes later on a Bray corner kick that senior Rebecca Hurt headed into the goal for the 2-0 halftime lead.

"We were passing the ball well," Bray said. "Mandy had a smart pass to me, and Rebecca finished on the header. We knew that we had to come in confident. We knew that we had to win the 50-50 balls."

The Lady Mustangs kept the ball in the attacking third of the field most of the first half, and allowed the Lady Lions one shot on goal.

The same was true in the second half as Madison scored two more goals and outshot TCA 6-2 with shots on goal.

Wilson converted a penalty kick in the 59th minute for the 3-0 lead, and Ivy Hitchon scored with around a minute to play for the 4-0 final.

"I think we had a rough three games to start the season, but we learned from them," Bray said. "We practiced what we made mistakes on, and we have gotten better. We cross the ball better and finish."

Long was also impressed with his defense, which had its fourth straight shutout and allowed TCA three total shots on goal.

"We made a couple of changes for the seniors to all play, but that is four straight that we have not been scored on," Long said. "They are playing well and working together."

Michael Odom, 425-9754