Before the season, University Heights Academy and Caldwell County were mentioned as the Girls’ Soccer All-A Classic region favorites. A third team may have joined the conversation.
Kaitlyn Cervantes had a hat trick, and Aria DeSilva added two goals to lead Fort Campbell to a 5-2 win at Lyon County Thursday.
The Lady Falcons also got a strong defensive effort to hold the Lady Lyons in check.
Cervantes got the Lady Falcons on the board six minutes in when her shot from 25 feet out found the net.
DeSilva took a cross from Lindsay Molinelli four minutes later for a quick 2-0 Fort Campbell lead.
Cervantes added her second goal of the half in the 24th minute when she launched a shot from 30 feet out that put Fort Campbell up 3-0. It looked like the Lady Falcons added a fourth goal right before halftime, but it was nullified on an offsides call.
Lyon County played with a step more urgency in the second half and scored six minutes in as Rose Smith outbattled a Fort Campbell defender for the ball near the top of the box and poked the shot in.
The momentum was short-lived as Cervantes completed her hat trick on another long shot in the 53rd minute.
Smith scored her second goal of the contest off a pass from Mary Beth Davis midway through the second half. Fort Campbell closed out the scoring with eight minutes left when DeSilva scored on a direct kick from 30 feet away.
Fort Campbell outshot Lyon 30-12 in the contest as their ability to control midfield aided in their offensive attack. The Lady Falcons also dropped four players on defense to limit Lyon County’s breakaway chances.
Abby Smith made 14 saves in goal for the Lady Lyons, while Fort Campbell’s Angel Manalang turned away four shots.
Fort Campbell improved to 5-2 with their fourth straight win. They are 4-0 away from home. The Lady Falcons will host Caldwell County Tuesday in the All-A Classic semifinals.
The Lady Lyons (5-3) will play at University Heights Academy Tuesday in the other All-A semifinal on post.