Lola Bamber moves the ball against defender in Signal Mountain Game.(Photo:GaryBolden)

Rhea Wins vs East Ridge, Loses to Signal Mountain for Split of 2 Games

Evensville, TN -- Sept. 2024

The RMS girls soccer team has been on a bit of an emotional roller coaster over the last two
games. The Eagles hosted a very young and inexperienced East Ridge team in a game that
was not close from the first kickoff. In what would be the first 9-0 win for the day, wing Lyla
Roddy slipped in a goal from a tough angle to start the scoring. This would be followed soon
after by a crack of a shot from twenty five yards out by Madison Smith. That goal was assisted
by Lidia Butt. Collyns Stinson hit the next goal with a looping shot from twenty yards out that
arched to the back corner. Lay Lay Smith assisted the Stinson goal. Talitha McKinney was up
next with a goal she followed in after Millie Darnell hit a ball from the wing that the East Ridge
keeper batted down. Annalee Willis finished a shot from Butt that she put in from close range.
The next goal came from another McKinney follow up that came from a strong Willis shot. The
final goal of the half came from a Roddy strike off a feed from Butt.
In the second half the Eagles focused on passing and possession with the girls stringing
together multiple passes and switching sides of the field. With about fifteen minutes left Rhea
stepped it up and finished the game with Willis putting one in from close range off a pass from
McKenna Ryan. The final goal was a powerful shot from Butt from outside the eighteen. Final
score 9-0.
The Eagles JV team followed with 9-0 victory over Ocoee’s JV team. Two hat tricks were seen
in this game with Glory McKinney scoring three times and Brandy Roddy putting three away.
Other goal scorers included Elizabeth Farr, Kelby Anderson and Bryn Fitzgerald who has just
recovered from a foot injury.
In Tuesday’s match the Eagles hosted Signal Mountain Middle School for the first time. Signal
Mountain’s mascot is also the Eagles. Signal has also had a good season and played high
pressure, fast attack style soccer. Two miscues by Rhea county allowed Signal to score which
would be the only two goals of the game. In the second half Rhea made some adjustments and
started playing better. The ball remained in the middle of the field for most of the second half
with Lidia Butt, Madison Smith and Lyla Roddy putting together passes down the wings. Rhea
showed strong defensive play from Milly Darnell and Leah Daniels with Caroline Dyer showing
her versatility as she transitioned from striker to defensive back several times during the game.
Final score 0-2 for Signal.

Aritcle by Mark Palmer