The Cascade Lady Champions rode four second half goals against the visiting Forrest Lady Rockets to pick up an important district win in their home opener, 4-0, on Tuesday night. 

It took just over an hour to break through the Chapel Hill defense, but once senior midfielder Sophie Ray poked home a loose ball in the box past the Lady Rockets’ Haddie Van Patten off of a free kick in the 61st minute, the floodgates opened for the hosts. 

Seven minutes later, freshman midfielder Olivia Winnett chipped home Cascade’s second goal in the 68th minute. Junior midfielder Ella McGeary would rocket home the Lady Champs’ third goal of the night into the top right corner in the 70th minute from 23 yards out, and then senior Ellie Chapa provided the finishing touch with just over three minutes left to play from a corner for the fourth and final goal.

Ella McGeary (11) shoots and scores Cascade's third goal vs Forrest.

For most of the first half, Cascade seemed unable to find the clinical finish, as evidenced by the scoreless draw at the break. In the opening ten minutes, the visiting Lady Rockets actually controlled the run of play. However, after the 10 minute mark or so, the Lady Champs began to find their footing both in attack and in possession. 

Ray seemed to win back every loose ball in the midfield that Chapel Hill attempted to clear away, and the freshmen attacking trio of Lexi Comstock, Olivia Winnett, and Kaylee Martin seemed to grow more and more confident as the game went on. Crisp one touch passing that sparked swift attacking movements had the visitors scrambling in their defensive third, and it was around the half hour mark in the first half that Cascade probably should have taken the lead.

Chapa slipped through a tantalizing through ball to Winnett across the box that cut through four Forrest defenders, leaving her all alone against Van Patten, but she managed to make an incredible diving save off the line down to her right at the back post to keep her team on level terms. 

Ellie Chapa (27) scored Cascade's 4th and final goal on Tuesday.

 That was really the best and most clear-cut scoring opportunity that either team created in the first half, but once the second half began, it was only a matter of time before the hosts found a breakthrough. Eight minutes into the second half, Comstock had a glorious opportunity to pounce on a free kick in a one-on-one chance with Van Patten, but in the end she pulled the ball just wide of the post.

13 minutes later, in the 61st minute, the scoring began, and the rout was on. As the second half played on, it became clear that the Lady Champs’ have some extremely promising talent in the freshmen class, especially in the attack, that should cause problems for just about every team that they play this season.

Chapel Hill falls to 0-3-0 (0-1-0) on the season and will play at Community on Friday night. 

Cascade improves to 2-2-1 (1-0-0) and will travel to Huntland on Thursday with kick-off scheduled for 6:30 p.m.