It took Middlesboro a little over 15 minutes to find their rhythm, but when they did the Lady Jackets scored often. Holding a 1-0 lead at the 18:30 mark in the first period, Middlesboro went on to a 10-0 victory over Bell County on Tuesday.

“We have a tendency to see what the other team is going to do the first five or 10 minutes of a game, and we can’t play that way. We have to play our game. When we have Harlan (County)…we’ve got to be confident from the first second of a game until the end of the game,” said Middlesboro coach Quinton Mason. “So, (our team) progressively got better (during this game). We became unselfish. Sometimes we feel like we’re the only one that can score, and we get selfish. But, they fixed the problem. That’s what they’re supposed to do.”

Baylee Woody was the catalyst for the Lady Jacket offense. The senior midfielder tallied a game-high six goals on the night — bringing her season total to 10.

“Baylee is who she is. She gets down on herself, but she’s an athlete. She keeps going and pushing until she gets what she wants,” said Mason. “You saw her jump the keeper to keep from getting a foul. Baylee is our captain, and she is sticking true to who she is.”

Aubrey Sowders scored two goals during the game, and Trinity Hardin and Emily Barnwell finished with one apiece. Sowders led the team with three assists — bringing her season total to six.

Madison Mason and Barnwell registered two assists, and Madison Irvin tallied one assists. Jordyn Ferguson earned the clean sheet while tallying two saves.

“Our defense did really well for about 90 percent of the game, but we get tired and we don’t want to step to the ball,” said Mason. “Our defense is a work in progress. We got a freshman, a sophomore who had never played until this year and a girl who just started this year. Kayla (James) is my only returning starter on defense. So, they’re a work in progress but they’re getting better.”

For Bell County, the young team continues to try and find their footing with new head coach Hanna Ratliff at the helm.

“In about the first 30 minutes of the first half, I think we held our own. I think we held the game, (and) honestly I think we held possession most of the time,” said Ratliff. “I think our girls were going out there and doing exactly what I told them to do. Then we got scored on, and it started going downhill.

“I think our girls are very used to being beaten. I’m trying to get that out of their heads. You do not deserve to lose, you deserve to win, you can win…you can beat Middlesboro, J. Frank White and all these teams. I think that it’s getting that in their heads that will help them move forward and get better.”

After grabbing an early 1-0 lead, the Lady Jackets hit a lull until the 30-minute mark — where Sowders found Woody for the goal to increase the lead to 2-0. Four minutes later, Sowders found the back of the net herself to widen the margin to 3-0.

It didn’t take long for Middlesboro to score again. Woody chased down a clearance, beat a Bell defender and put the ball in the back of the net to balloon the lead to 4-0 at the 36-minute mark in the first period.

Sowders ended the half with a goal to give Middlesboro a 5-0 lead.

The second half wasn’t much better for Bell County. Woody added three more goals in the second half. Barnwell and Hardin also scored in the second half to give the Lady Jackets a 10-goal victory.

Up Next

Middlesboro (2-1) returned to the field on Thursday when they traveled to Harlan County (0-1).

Bell County (0-2) played J. Frank White Academy on Thursday.