Augusta Christian off to winning start

Augusta Christian's boys soccer team made school history on Tuesday when they stepped onto the field at Heathwood Hall as the first-ever Lions soccer team.

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They didn't stop there. The Lions won the road game at Heathwood Hall 1-0.

"Even if we would have lost 1-0 it would have been a victory for us," Augusta Christian boys soccer coach Joseph Lutz said. "To win 1-0 is even better."

Augusta Christian, with a first-year soccer team of only 14 boys, fought Heathwood Hall to a stalemate for most of the game.

"It was just as I thought," Lutz said. "We played defense for 80 to 85 percent of the game and just played well-planned-out counterattacks. We had one really good one where we scored."

In the 75th minute of the game, Augusta Christian's Steven Bloedel shot low on a pass from Osbar Dickinson. The shot went underneath the Heathwood Hall keeper for the game-winning score.

"We went wild. The fans went wild," Lutz said.

While Bloedel's goal was the game-winner, it was the play of eighth-grader Matt Rogers that made the difference. The rookie goal keeper made 13 saves on the day to ensure Augusta Christian's first-ever soccer game would end in a win.

"Three or four of them were high-quality saves that kept us in the game," Lutz said. "He's quick and strong and reads the ball well."

Augusta Christian will play next at Cardinal Newman on Monday.

The Lady Lions soccer team will play in the school's first-ever home soccer game on Tuesday against St. Joseph's at 5:30 p.m.

Henderson hat trick

Evans' girls soccer team won 8-0 on Wednesday, with four goals and an assist from Tarah Henderson. Emily Belchyk turned in two more scores, and Holly Hess and Jennie Maxwell also scored.

Lakeside winners

Both the Lakeside girls and boys soccer teams picked up wins over Aiken on Wednesday. The Lakeside boys won 4-2 with goals from Thomas Bergen, Justin Pitock, Matthew Hutchinson and Dalton Beckham. The Lady Panthers, who entered the weekend with a 7-2 overall record, beat Aiken 3-1 thanks to goals from Stephanie Allen, Elizabeth Pugh and Annie Randall Hatcher.

Cavalier blowout

Augusta Prep's Mary Beth Horton scored three goals and dished out two assists in an 8-0 win over Mount Vernon on Wednesday. Stephanie Brown added two goals, while Elena Freeman, Mary Glenn Yort and Katherine Yort also scored.

Tops in the region

Greenbrier's boys remained perfect in region play on Tuesday with a 3-0 win over Statesboro. The Region 3B-AAAA game saw Kyler Harden score two goals and Brooks Duff add another. Greenbrier entered the weekend ranked Class AAAA No. 2.

Greenbrier's girls also beat Statesboro, entering the weekend ranked Class AAAA No. 7 with a 4-0 region record.