By Jeff Devine, Dale County Chronicle
Skipperville —County school system rivals clashed Thursday night as the G.W. Long Rebels took on the Ariton Purple Cats in girls and boys soccer action.
The Ariton Lady Cats faced a tough outing Thursday night, falling 5-1 to G.W. Long in the girls’ matchup, as the Rebels built an early lead and never looked back.
Ariton found itself in a difficult position by halftime, trailing 4-1 after a strong offensive push from G.W. Long in the opening period. The early deficit proved too much for the Lady Cats to overcome, as the Rebels added another goal in the second half to secure the win.
Balanced and consistent scoring helped lead G.W. Long to the win. Bella Rhodehouse paced the Rebels with two goals, while Gracie Davis, Esther Rosales, and Jordan Jacobs each added a goal to round out the attack. In goal, Karleigh Massey turned in a solid performance with four saves.
The loss continues a challenging stretch for Ariton, which has now dropped four consecutive matches and falls to 1-10-1 on the season. Trinity Williams scored the single goal for the Lady Cats.
Despite the setback, the Lady Cats will have an opportunity to regroup quickly, returning home to host Satsuma at 5:30 p.m. Friday.
G.W. Long, now 6-8 on the season, will also look to carry momentum into its next matchup. The Rebels are set to host Providence Christian at 5:30 p.m. Monday in what could be a high-scoring contest, as Providence Christian enters the match averaging more than four goals per game.
In boys action, Ariton turned in an impressive performance Thursday night, defeating G.W. Long 3-0 in a rematch of a closely contested meeting earlier this season. After narrowly edging the Rebels in their previous matchup, the Purple Cats left little doubt this time, controlling play throughout to secure the shutout victory.
The win marked Ariton’s second consecutive victory and improved the team’s record to 5-10-1 on the season, providing a boost of momentum as the schedule moves forward. Meanwhile, the loss dropped G.W. Long to 7-11-1.
Ariton is set to return home to face Satsuma at 7:15 p.m. Friday, while G.W. Long will host Providence Christian at 7:15 p.m. Monday.
