By By Todd Thompson, Hartselle Enquirer
DECATUR - Hartselle’s conservative play against Austin in the Morgan County Boys’ Soccer Championship gave them an early lead.
The Tigers’ free-wheeling style in the second half resulted in a flurry of goals as Hartselle stunned the defending county champions 4-1 Monday night at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex.
The championship was the Tigers’ first since the 2006 season.
Hartselle has 10 seniors on the team this year and that helped during the weeklong tournament that was extended by two days after Hartselle’s prom pushed the championship back to Monday night.
Hartselle held a tenuous 1-0 lead in the first half after Matt McCutcheon beat the Austin goalie in the 31st minute of the game.
The goal put Hartselle in command of the game and the Tigers never relinquished the lead with a solid defensive effort.
Robert Sharp, playing with 11 stitches after a collision with a Brewer player earlier in the tournament, was near-perfect in goal. He stop four of the five Austin shots on goal, including several attempts from close range.
The Tigers’ barrage on Austin started in the second half when Nathan Owen’s goal at the 50-minute mark started a three-goal spree in a span of just eight minutes.
Tyler Robinson made it 3-0 when he chipped the keeper two minutes after Owen’s goal.
Walker, the tournament’s most valuable player, capped the Tigers’ offense when he scored off a free kick at the 58-minute mark.
Austin ended Hartselle’s shutout bid late in the game when Matt Pensa beat Sharp with a goal that did little to dampen Hartselle’s party.
Walker was joined on the all-tournament team by teammates Aaron Teal, James Haynes and Eli Bair.
Harris was selected as the county’s Coach of the Year.
Hartselle 2, Brewer 1
James Haynes scored the game-winning goal in the second half off a pass from Tyler Robinson to send Hartselle to a 2-1 victory over Brewer in the boys’ semifinals match.
Julius Meixner also scored for Hartselle in the win.
Brewer’s lone goal was scored by Grant Pierce with an assist to Fernando Arellanes.
Brewer 4, Priceville 0
Michael Ham and Chase Baker combined to earn the 4-0 shutout win over Priceville.
Grant Price scored twice to lead Brewer’s offense. Fernando Arellanes and Dylan McCaghren also scored goals in the win.
Hartselle 6, West Morgan 0
Will Cole, Wyatt Walker, Julius Walker and Cody Terry scored goals to lead Hartselle to a win over West Morgan.
Robert Sharp earned the win in goal.
Danville 4, Decatur JV 3
Danville’s Jared Callahan, Brock Garrison, Tyler Beck and Daniel Sanchez scored goals as Danville beat Decatur’s junior varsity team.
The Hawks’ Lawrence Jacko had two assists in the win.
Hartselle 6, Danville 0
Hartselle’s Will Coleman and Matt McCutcheon scored two goals each in a shutout win over Danville.
The Tigers’ Issac Robinson and Cody Terry also scored goals.
Danville had just one shot on goal in the game.
Austin 10, Priceville 0
Austin got two goals from Jonathan Jones in a 10-0 victory over Priceville.
Brewer 4, Decatur 2
Brewer’s Grant Pierce and Ben Goodman scored two goals each in the Patriots’ 4-2 victory over Decatur.
Pierce, Dylan McCaghren, Josh David and Jose Rodriguez were credited with assists in the win.
Austin 4, Brewer 0
Austin got goals from Matt Pensa, Jonathan Jones, Kevyn Vazquez and Sam Dean to beat Brewer.
Decatur 8, Priceville 0
Spencer Walraven scored three times as Decatur beat Priceville 8-0.
West Morgan 6, Danville 0
West Morgan’s Taylor Crow scored twice to beat Danville in pool play.
Girls
Decatur girls 10, Priceville 0
Priceville came up short in its bid to reach the championship with a loss to Decatur in the semifinals.
Decatur’s Sarah Catherine Woller scored twice to lead the Lady Red Raiders’ attack.
Hartselle 3, Priceville 0
Allie Teal scored twice as Hartselle beat Priceville 3-0.
Hollie Crabtree also scored for the Lady Tigers in the shutout.
Raine Nichols earned the win in goal.
Mars Hill 6, Danville 0
Mars Hill, not competing for the county championship, scored six times to beat Danville.
Taylor Wideman scored two goals for the Lady Panthers.
Brewer 3, West Morgan 1
Cassie Morgan scored three times as Brewer defeated West Morgan 3-1.
The game was tied 1-1 before Morgan scored twice in the second half to provide the Lady Patriots with the winning goals.
Decatur 10, Danville 0
Sally Adams and Keley Page led Decatur’s 10-0 victory over Danville with two goals each.
Priceville 4, West Morgan 1
Priceville’s Rachel Fredericks scored twice to lead Priceville to a 4-1 victory over West Morgan.
Alisha Burchell and Marie Kaminsky added goals for the Lady Bulldogs.
Masey Smith and Bobbie Jo Smith teammed up for the win in goal.
Hartselle 2, Brewer 0
Miri Sato and Haley Patterson scored Hartselle goals in a 2-0 shutout win over Brewer.
Caty Matthews added an assist for Hartselle.
Raine Nichols earned the shutout win in goal.
Hartselle 2, West Morgan 0
Taryn Dursham and Paige Drouillard scored for Hartselle in a win over West Morgan.
Rainey Nicholas earned the shutout for the Lady Tigers.
Priceville 2, Brewer 1
Priceville got goals from Alisha Burchell and Marie Kaminsky and held off Brewer for a 2-1 victory.
Brewer’s Brittany O’Driscoll scored in the second half to trim the lead to one goal.
Austin 8, Danville 0
Austin’s Lindsay Boonarkat scored twice to lead Austin to a win over Danville.