Hartselle soccer defeats Athens, goes 2-1 in Gulf Shores
By Russ Gordon
For the Enquirer
The past two weeks have been eventful for the Hartselle High School boys’ soccer program, with both the varsity and junior varsity teams demonstrating their prowess on the field. The Tigers have faced a series of challenging matches, securing several victories and showcasing their determination and skill.
Hartselle defeats Athens On March 10, the JV team took to the field against Athens and emerged victorious with a 2-1 win. Goals were scored by Joey Cataline and Lucas Bean.
The varsity Tigers devoured the Golden Eagles, winning by a mercy rule with an impressive 10-0 scoreline. Rhett Spivey achieved a haul by scoring four goals, Luke Vinson contributed with a brace of two goals, and Andrew O’Leary, Levi McIntosh, Owen Newton and Kevin Davis each added one goal to the tally.
The momentum continued March 11, when the JV boys defeated Elkmont with a commanding 6-0 victory. Their performance was characterized by effective teamwork and relentless pressure on their opponents.
In an Area 13 match on the same day, the varsity team faced Jasper High School. After a grueling 80 minutes resulting in a 1-1 tie, with Spivey scor-ing for Hartselle, the game proceeded to two five-minute overtime periods. Ultimately, the match had to be decided by penalty kicks. Hartselle’s goalkeeper, John Vinson, made a crucial save, and Hartselle scored on their first four penalty kicks while Jasper managed to score only two, securing a hard-fought victory for the Tigers.
Two days later, in another Area 13 game, Hartselle took on Mortimer Jordan and emerged victorious with a 5-0 win. The game experienced a one-hour delay at halftime due to a thunderstorm, but the Tigers remained unfazed. Elliott Barnes scored one goal, while Spivey and Vinson each notched a brace, demonstrating their consistent scoring ability.
Hartselle falls to Austin On March 18, the Tigers faced a challenging match away at Austin High School. Despite a valiant effort, Hartselle fell short with a 1-2 loss. Spivey scored the lone goal for the Tigers.
Gulf Shores Island Cup: A mixed bag From March 21-22, the varsity team traveled to South Alabama to compete in the 2025 Gulf Shores Island Cup, which featured a competitive field of nine teams. In their first game, Hartselle faced St. Luke’s Episcopal and suffered a 4-0 defeat. Later that evening, they played against St. Paul’s and lost 3-0. However, the Tigers bounced back in their Saturday morning game, defeating the Gulf Shores Dolphins 3-1. Vinson scored two goals, and Spivey added one, securing a well-deserved victory. The Tigers finished in seventh place overall in the tournament.
Area 13 standings
The current standings in 6A Area 13 are as follows: Cullman Bearcats hold the first place with a 3-0 record, Hartselle is in second place with a 2-1 record, Jasper is in third place with a 1-2 record, and Mortimer Jordan is in last place with a 0-3 record.
