Cavalier Soccer Earns Shutout Win Over Smyrna

Story and Photos by Rusty Ellis

The Cookeville Cavaliers followed up their 3-1 win over Rome (GA) over the weekend with a 2-0 shutout over district foe Smyrna on Tuesday.

The Cavaliers opened the scoring early in the first half, as Luke Mabry found the back of the net at the 3:15 mark to give Cookeville a 1-0.

Cookeville added onto the advantage with a goal from Jude Reese at the 35:02, as he scored off a find from Drake Thacker to run the score to 2-0 heading into halftime.

Neither team scored in the second half, as the Cavaliers controlled possession and kept the defensive intensity up to earn the 2-0 victory.

Ethan Sawyer put together the shutout in net for CHS head coach Bralen Clouse.

“I think we played phenomenally,” Clouse said. “Obviously I would’ve liked a couple more goals in the second half, but the two goals were just great goals from us…we get out of here with a 2-0 win, and we didn’t let up, which is nice.”

As far as what he would still like to see the team do better, Clouse says he wants to see the continued intensity for all 80 minutes like he saw on Tuesday.

“We did good for not letting up for the whole 80 minutes, but there were chances we didn’t finish,” Clouse said. “I want to capitalize on every single time we get the ball, but I think our defense played phenomenally.  Our press whenever they had the ball, they couldn’t do anything there at the end, so it was a great win.”

Cookeville will be back in action on Thursday night against Mt. Juliet at 7 P.M.

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