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GALLATIN WEATHER

WH Heritage soccer earns first district tournament title




Heritage junior Lydia Clifford (6) attempts to pass around White House freshman McKenna Potts (15). KRIS FREEMAN

Heritage junior Lydia Clifford (6) attempts to pass around White House freshman McKenna Potts (15). KRIS FREEMAN

WHITE HOUSE – The White House Heritage girls soccer team has entered uncharted postseason territory, but that doesn’t mean they are uncomfortable.

In fact, the Lady Patriots looked quite comfortable in an 8-2 victory over White House on Thursday evening, coasting to their first District 9-AA soccer tournament title.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Heritage coach Rett Roach said. “This is for these players, the coaches and the fans that came out. We probably had 300 people here. And it’s fall break. The girls are lucky to have this much support.”

Heritage jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first 17 minutes. Ella Bryant and Cassie Gardner both scored a pair of goals to give the Lady Patriots early momentum that they didn’t have in a 4-1 victory over Portland in Tuesday’s district semifinals.

“I feel like we were a little laid back against Portland,” Heritage senior Eimy Esparza said. “It didn’t feel like the (postseason) yet. But then today, knowing it was a championship and everything, we were all just so ready to win.”

White House Heritage defeated White House 8-2 for the District 9-AA title Thursday.SUBMITTED

White House Heritage defeated White House 8-2 for the District 9-AA title Thursday.SUBMITTED

Roach said the team could hardly contain their excitement before the game. The Lady Patriots beat White House for the first time in program history with a 6-1 victory Oct. 3, and they were hungry to do it again.

“It was like taming caged tigers,” he said. “They couldn’t wait to get out there. If you can’t get up for White House, you probably shouldn’t be playing soccer.”

But White House did not back down. Baylee Miller and Morgan Potts answered with scores to cut the Heritage lead to 4-2 at halftime.

“We never quit out there,” White House coach Mike Felzien said. “I’m proud of that. We’ll see what happens in the next round. And who knows, maybe we’ll have to match up (with Heritage) again.”

However, the Lady Patriots reeled off four more goals in the second half. Abby Tolbert lifted a shot over White House keeper Abigail Bradley in the 54th minute, and then Alex Green scored back-to-back goals in the 69th and 75th minutes. Esparza capped the win with a penalty kick in the 77th minute.

White House’s Carmen Perkins looks for an open teammate.KRIS FREEMAN

White House’s Carmen Perkins looks for an open teammate.KRIS FREEMAN

“We need to have same energy we had today,” Esparza said of the team’s plan for the region tournament. “We were all so hyped in warmups. We have to carry that throughout the rest of the season, however many more games we get.”

White House fell to 7-11-1 with the loss. The Lady Devils will travel to Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet for the Region 5-AA semifinals Tuesday, Oct. 22.

“(Heritage) controlled (possession) and had more offensive attacks than we were generating,” Felzien said. “When we got our opportunities, we needed to cash in. And there were several times that we did not.”

Heritage (10-2-4) will host Hume-Fogg in region semifinals Tuesday. The semifinal winners will meet for the Region 5-AA title Thursday, Oct. 24. Both of Tuesday’s winners will also clinch berths for the sectionals, which will be played Saturday, Oct. 26.

Heritage’s Bayleigh Ballard fights with Morgan Potts for possession.KRIS FREEMAN

Heritage’s Bayleigh Ballard fights with Morgan Potts for possession.KRIS FREEMAN

“Just keep winning, baby,” Roach said. “That’s all it is. If we can keep winning, we’ll play home games until (the state tournament in) Murfreesboro.”

Heritage forward Abby Tolbert (left) tries to get past White House’s Eva Felts (7). KRIS FREEMAN

Heritage forward Abby Tolbert (left) tries to get past White House’s Eva Felts (7). KRIS FREEMAN

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