The Cascade Lady Champions held on late to beat the Community Viqueens 2-1 in Unionville on Tuesday night to complete the regular season sweep in the ‘Battle of Bedford’. 

After falling in Bell Buckle earlier this season 4-1 in convincing fashion, the hometown Viqueens put up an admirable fight against the district leaders for 80 minutes.

Freshman Olivia Winnett opened the scoring for Cascade in the first half, and then Kesley Shatley scored what turned out to be the game-winning goal in the second half. Stevie Dickenson got on the scoresheet for the Viqueens late. 

The game opened with a noticeable lineup adjustment for the visitors with starting midfielder, Sophie Ray, getting the start in goal with Irais Rojas out with a presumed illness. This allowed Community to find a little more room in the middle third throughout the game, stunting a dangerous Cascade offensive attack for a lot of the match. 

Lexi Comstock registered the first real shot of the night in the 19th minute when her attempt at goal clanked off the inside of the left post and redirected across the face of goal to stay scoreless. Perhaps shaken to life by nearly conceding first, the Viqueens quickly responded with Audrina Bearden recording the first official shot-on-goal of the evening in the 20th minute, but Sophie Ray ultimately was able to make the save. 

Shortly after, Ellie Chapa began to ask questions of the Community backline, putting shots on target in both the 21st and 27th minute that were both saved. 

Then, as the pressure was continuing to mount against the Viqueens defense, Olivia Winnett found space from the outside of the box and fired a shot that deflected off the fingertips of the hosts’ goalkeeper and into the back of the net to put Cascade in front 1-0 in the 28th minute.

Olivia Winnett (15) scored Cascade's first goal on Tuesday night.

Neither team was able to muster up any quality chances in the final 12 minutes of the first half, sending both teams to their benches for halftime with the score still at 1-0.

Both teams continued to battle hard for time on the ball as the second half began, and every challenge was closely contested. In the 60th minute, Cascade’s Ella Thompson was booked, picking up a yellow card from her tackle on Alisha Hartsfield that left the Viqueens’ midfielder shaken up.

Less than a minute later, Community’s Emma Neal was put into the book as well, picking up a soft yellow card of her own on a challenge gone wrong in the midfield. 

The hosts’ were gifted their best chance of the match to that point in the 63rd minute when Ray double-touched the ball in the box, setting up the Viqueens with an indirect free-kick from 12 yards away. However, Cascade was able to block the attempt on goal to preserve the clean sheet.

Six minutes later, in the 69th minute, Kesley Shatley doubled the Lady Champs’ lead after re-directing the ball off her thigh in the box into the back of the net to give Cascade an important 2-0 lead. 

Community did not go down without a fight, getting a goal back in the 75th minute after Sara Flanagan played a ball to Stevie Dickenson who was able to slide the ball past Ray in goal to make it a 2-1 game with five minutes to go.

Sarah Flanagan (21) tallied an assist against Cascade on Tuesday.

Ultimately, it was too little too late, as the Lady Champions held on to secure the number one overall seed in the upcoming district tournament and complete the regular season sweep against their cross-county rival.

Community falls to 3-4-1 (1-4) and is currently scheduled to play at Huntland on Friday, weather permitting. 

Cascade improves to 8-2-1 (7-0) and will host Fayetteville on Thursday for Senior Night.