The 2023 Rhea Middle School Soccer Team.(Photo:RheaMiddleSoccer)

Eagles Begin Season With Wins Over Chilhowee and Cleveland

After completing a very successful season last year, there was some question about how the
Rhea Middle Girls Soccer team would fare after graduating thirteen players including most of
the starting lineup. The Eagles worked on the answer to that question on Tuesday with a 7-1
win on the road against a much improved Chilhowee team. Two girls, Annalee Willis and Mercy
Ferguson both scored hat tricks and the win was finished off with a great run up the middle and
goal from Lillian Ferguson.
The real answer came on Thursday with a 2-0 win against a very strong and physical Cleveland
team. The game was a battle right from the start with the Eagles holding their own in a very
back and forth scoreless first half. Holding tough in the back included veteran Liberty Raymer
in goal, defensive backs Lilly Love, newcomer Meredith Goggans, Juliet Ferguson and Caroline
Dyer who all played well all night long. The back four was helped tremendously by defensive
midfielder Lidia Butt who worked to shutdown any Cleveland attack.
In the second half the Lady Eagles came out strong and started to really control the game. A
long free kick from Lidia Butt was jammed home by Mercy Ferguson about ten minutes in.
Midfielders Blakeli Graham, Addi Hughes and Lyla Roddy all worked hard against an
increasingly frustrated Cleveland midfield. As the half progressed Lyla Roddy drove up the left
side and after some hard work by Annalee Willis, Mercy Ferguson again finished with about ten
minutes remaining. With the clock winding down, the Eagles showed that they should be a
strong contender all season long.

Mercy Ferguson being congratulated on her first of two goals. (Photo Credit Gary
Bolden)

Captain Mercy Ferguson had this to say about the Cleveland game. From Mercy:
“Playing Cleveland is never easy, everyone knows to bring their “A” game. Losing to
them last year in the championship game, we all wanted to win and show Cleveland up.
With the first half of the game being scoreless we all knew we had to come out harder
in the second half. Getting our first goal was a big relief but getting our second goal, we
all knew we just had to hold them off from scoring. Hearing the clock at the end was
such a good sound. I am so proud of my team.”

After the Varsity game the JV teams took the field. This game ended with a 1-1 draw which
included a very nice goal by Grady Sue Parker who drove the ball up from about thirty yards
out and finished with a low and powerful shot.
On Friday of next week the Eagles travel to Athens.

Mark Palmer, head coach Rhea Middle Soccer