Colonel soccer teams win four
NOT A HAT RACK – Copiah soccer players converge on a loose ball, using their heads to move it up the field during recent action. View more photos in the Photo Album at left. PICTURE SUBMITTED BY DAVID BRUNT
BY BRO. JAMES BEASLEY
The Copiah Academy soccer team won all four games last week, including a 3-0 decision over the #5-ranked AAA Lamar Academy Raiders, and improved its overall record to 6-0.
The Colonels opened the week with a 3-1 win over archrival Brookhaven Academy in Gallman. After trailing 1-0 at intermission, Copiah picked up the pace and tied the score 1-1 four minutes into the second half on Richard Henley’s direct kick just outside the eighteen. The versatile senior scored again twenty minutes later on a left-footed kick from the top of the eighteen. CA got an insurance goal with 7 minutes left as Daniel Sims re-directed a volley shot into the corner of the net, giving his team a 3-1 lead they never relinquished.
The Colonels traveled to Jackson midweek to face a vastly improved Veritas team. CA’s Lee Brown and Scotty Reese each scored a goal, and the Copiah defense played a solid game as the Colonels won 2-0. Backup goalkeeper Hunter Greer recorded nine saves to earn the shutout.
On Thursday, CA headed to Natchez to face the Trinity Episcopal Saints and escaped with a 1-0 victory, thanks to a goal by Scotty Reese in the ninth minute.
Things went better last Saturday as the Colonels dominated Lamar Academy 3-0 in Gallman. The AAA Raiders had previously been ranked #5 among MPSA teams. Copiah scored the first of its three goals in the 26th minute on Scotty Reese’s kick off a Richard Henley assist. Four minutes later, Henley connected on a direct kick just outside the eighteen to give the Colonels a 2-0 lead. Less than two minutes later, CA got its third and final goal when Lee Brown headed the ball past the goalie into the net.
The Copiah defense shut down the vaunted Lamar attack, thanks to 19 saves by backup goalkeeper Hunter Greer, who was subbing for the injured Christopher Bagley. Unfortunately, CA’s versatile midfielder, Richard Henley, injured his foot in the second half. His playing status is listed as day-to-day.
