By Daniel Rigdon / sports writer
West Lauderdale survived a last-minute scare as it defeated homestanding Clarkdale 5-4 in an offensive battle Thursday night. The two teams combined for 25 shots-on-goal in the match.
The Bulldogs (2-1) struck first as Mason Tabb scored only four minutes into the contest to put them up 1-0.
The Knights (3-1) did not get discouraged as they knotted the contest on a header for a goal by Alex Malvaez. West would pick up some momentum as Tyler Germany would follow suit with a goal of his own to put the Knights up 2-1 with 16 minutes left in the first half.
Clarkdale would answer back as Micah Redmond scored the first of his two goals on the night to get the Bulldogs back even at 2-2. Redmond's second goal would come as he connected from 25 yards out on a perfectly struck free kick.
However, the Knights would get rolling and stretch their lead to 4-2 at half via Malvaez and Germany's second goals of the game.
Clarkdale would not go away as it kept it close throughout the second half trading goal for goal with West. The Bulldogs just could not seem to get over the hump as it missed two potential game-tying shots with less than two minutes left and secured the win for the Knights.
Lyle Daughtery also scored a goal in the Knights winning effort.
Clarkdale also got a goal and an assist from Myles Malone.
"I can't be more proud of our guys after the way the responded to going down 1-0 early," said West coach Brian Miley. "Clarkdale is a hard-nosed and very well-coached team. We are lucky to out with the win tonight."
Clarkdale coach Mark Taylor said: "I thought it was a really good soccer game. West has a really good team. We kept ourselves in it by the way we kept coming back but in the end it was their night."
Both teams resume play Saturday at the Lauderdale County Tournament at Northeast Park.
West girls 3
Clarkdale 0
West Lauderdale overcame a sluggish start to down the homestanding Clarkdale Bulldogs 3-0 Thursday night.
The first half got off to a slow start as each team's defense stepped up and denied clean looks at the goal. The final several minutes of the half resulted in a stalemate between the two teams as the score at half time stood 0-0.
However, the Knights (3-2) regrouped as Lacy Billings would get things going scoring a goal off of a Kayte Ford free kick.
West would extend its lead midway through the second half as Ninochka Gomez scored a goal unassisted.
The final score of the contest would come on freshman Taylor Crawford's goal off a Gomez free kick.
"We got off to a slow start," said West coach Sonja Rowell. "We made some adjustments in the second half. We put a little more speed on the outside and strengthened the middle of the field to put more pressure on them."
Both teams get back into action Saturday at the Lauderdale County Tournament at Northeast Park.
