Cartersville soccer teams overcome early deficits to win openers - Daily Tribune News

STAFF REPORT

The Cartersville boys soccer team used two goals from Alex Rios to help rally past Dawson County for a 5-2 victory in the Canes' opener Friday night on the road.

Rios tied the game at 1-apiece just five minutes after the hosts had taken the lead. The sophomore later scored Cartersville's fourth of the night to give his side a comfortable 4-1 advantage.

After Dawson opened the scoring, Rios struck on the half-hour mark off an assist from Brady Craig. Six minutes later, Joel Zazueta scored for a 2-1 halftime lead.

Joan Vargas stretched the advantage for the Canes, thanks to Daniel Abeja's second assist of the night, before Rios gave the team a three-goal lead. Following a handball in the box, Joshua Morales buried a penalty kick to completely put the game away.

The Tigers scored a late consolation goal on a free kick to set the final margin.

Cartersville girls 3, Dawson County 1

Facing a 1-0 deficit on the road against a defending region champion from Class 3A, Cartersville head girls soccer coach Chad Murray felt as though his team had had dominated proceedings.

It probably came as little surprise, then that the Canes turned their overwhelming advantage in possession into an impressive comeback win, rallying for a 3-1 victory Friday over Dawson County.

A defensive mistake undid what Murray said was roughly 80% possession in the first half, sending Cartersville into halftime with an undeserved 1-0 deficit.

In the 47th minute, Abbey Craig evened the score off an assist from Micah Vance.

Kalyn Donegan scored the final two goals in the 57th and 62nd minutes. Her first came off a Kendyl Anderson corner kick, and her second was initiated by a throw in from Devondria Johnson.

"We challenged the girls at halftime to score four," Murray said. "We almost got it. Possession was the same in the 2nd half. We were patient, made the smart play and finally were able to put some in the back of the net.

"There were not a lot of glaring issues to gripe about, but I told the girls after the game that we always have things we can work on to get better. ... I’m very proud of the girls."

Other scores: Dalton 8, Cass girls 0.