Lionettes battle to tie

By TONY STINNETT, Courier Sports Editor

Success is not always evident by the scoreboard and Cannon County's girls' soccer team continued to battle and compete despite coming up just short in the win-loss column.

The Lionettes (3-10-1, 1-6-1) battled to a 1-1 draw against Livingston Academy Tuesday (Sept. 23) and they dropped a 6-0 decision against powerful Goodpasture Thursday (Sept. 25).

Cannon County's defense was stellar and Kendra Maynard provided her third goal of the season off a corner kick to give the Lionettes a 1-0 halftime lead. Hannah Taylor provided the assist on the well executed corner kick.
The first half was tough competition as the two teams appeared evenly matched. The Lionettes were without leading scorer Livia Walker and midfielder Baylee Nemeth due to injury.

Livingston Academy tied the score on a open shot from the 18-yard line with 10 minutes remaining. The Lady Wildcats had a chance to take the lead on a penalty kick late in the match but Lionette keeper Jessica Elmy made a fantastic save by deflecting the shot just enough to cause it to ricochet off the side bar. Elmy finished with eight saves.

Goodpasture lived up to its billing as one of the Midstate's top teams. It jumped out to a 5-0 halftime lead and settled for a 6-0 win Thursday. Cannon County managed just four shots in the match.
After surrendering five goals in the first half, Cannon County's defense was much better in the second half, allowing just one.

Sophomore Kaylee Nemeth played her best game of the season as a midfielder. Jylian Jones returned from injury and displayed toughness in the match. Keeper Raquel Novoa held Goodpasture in check in the second half. Elmy started and recorded 10 saves to push her season total to 133.