On Wednesday evening, the Lady Huskies soccer team hosted the East Wilkes Cardinals in their second match up of the season. Ashe claimed a victory in the teams’ first meeting, and were looking to make it a repeat. Ashe was able to achieve this with a pair of goals, and solid defensive effort from the entire team to claim the 2-0 victory over their 1-A non-conference opponents from East Wilkes.

Ashe was able to open up the scoring about fifteen minutes into the game when Mallary Clay was able to place a shot by the Cardinals’ goalkeeper from outside the penalty box to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead.

Despite many runs by the Cardinals, the Huskies’ defense, headed by Shelly Barker as a stout force in the center-back position, the score stood at 1-0 at halftime. Although the Huskies were unable to score after the lone goal in the first half, Ashe had numerous runs and scoring opportunities. For a majority of the first half, Ashe’s midfield was able to control the ball, and with good ball control kept possession of the ball to prevent an equalizer goal to be scored by East Wilkes.

The Huskies are on a run as they have not lost in their past five games after a slow start. The Huskies have moved their record to 3-3-2. In the past five games, Ashe has went 3-0-2, and Christina Cole has registered four clean-sheets in the net for Ashe.

In the second half, Ashe was able to protect their 1-0 lead once again by maintaining vital possession of the ball. Ashe forced the Cardinals’ keeper into making many saves during the forty-minute half and Ashe was able to score a second goal when Belynda Price placed a shot over the keeper’s head in the fifteenth minute of the second half to give Ashe a 2-0 lead with only 25 minutes remaining in the game.

In the concluding portion of the game, Ashe kept the pressure on the Cardinals defensive half and drove shot after shot at the net. Although a large portion of the shots was wide of the target for Ashe, they only missed the back of the net by feet or mere inches. Ashe was able to conclude the game with the 2-0 victory over East Wilkes and moved to 3-3-2 for the season.

“I thought the girls did a great job of passing and possessing the ball during the game,” Coach Richard Gill commented for Ashe. “We did a good job in the midfield and we were patient and worked the ball up the field to create scoring opportunities, which led to the two goals we had.”

Coach Gill also commented: “This is our fourth shutout in a row thanks to a solid defense that we have in the back. Our defense has been really strong and a big help to us winning.”

The Huskies were on the road last night as they returned to conference play with an away game at Forbush. Their next game is scheduled for Tuesday with an away game at Wilkes Central.