By Katie Barker
Carter County Times
Middle school soccer district competition started on Monday, at the Mason County football field
where the West Carter Comets and Simmons Middle School Cougars went head to head in the
first round; and where the Comets ultimately fell in a 0-1 loss, ending their district run early.
The Cougars sealed their win early on, with a goal from #5 Shelby Hinton in the fifth minute
of the game. Hinton shot near the 15 yard line and sunk the ball in the goal, past the Comets’
defense, giving the Cougars the early lead and ultimately winning them the game despite the Comets’ success at holding them scoreless the rest of the game.
Despite a valiant effort, the West Carter team was never able to recover from that early deficit. The Comets tried to come back with a shot from Gabe Russell with seconds left in the first half.
The ball bounced off the corner post and out of bounds ending the first half.
The game continued to be competitive all throughout the second half with chances appearing for
the Comets to get on the board and the Cougars to strengthen their lead but neither defense was
letting it happen.
Comet’s goalkeeper Hayden “Buzz” Eldridge wasn’t going to let another shot in the goal and
neither were the Comet’s defense led by #13 Colton Henderson. Henderson made crucial stops
on multiple plays from the Cougars, alongside #17 Peyton Cordle, and kept the score 0-1.
Landon Coffield and the Cougars defense kept the Comets at bay through the whole game.
Coffield led the defense throughout the evening, giving the Comets few opportunities to shoot and
get on the board. However, Comet Gabe Caudill did not let that stop him as he kept taking
opportunities to shoot, but continued being blocked by the Cougar’s goalkeeper.
With a free kick for the Cougars with seconds to go, the buzzer went off and the Cougars secured
their 1-0 victory leaving the Comets behind and ending their district run early
Contact the writer at news@cartercountytimes.com
