Cedar Ridge 9, Person 0: The Cedar Ridge women’s soccer team may very well be off to the very well the best start in school history. Junior Katie Paulakonis had one of the greatest weeks in team history last week.
Paulakonis had consecutive four-goal games. On Wednesday night, Paulakonis scored four goals in the Red Wolves Central Conference opener over Person at Red Wolves Stadium. The Red Wolves improved to 5-0, it’s first five-game winning streak to start a season since 2009, which is as far back as online records go.
Junior Fleury Nicholson, in her third year starting on the varsity level, earned her first hat trick of the season. Freshman Kate Finnegan also had a goal for the Red Wolves.
Paulakonis, a junior, is in her first season at Cedar Ridge. She was homeschooled for the past ten years at played with Dash FC out of Clayton.
Goalkeeper Ellamarie Perel earned the clean sheet as Cedar Ridge remained undefeated under new head coach Sam Semerzier.
It was Cedar Ridge’s second mercy rule win of the season. They also defeated Northern Durham 9-0 on March 8.
On Monday night in a 4-2 win over Franklinton, Paulakonis scored four goals. She added her fourth goal in the 87th minute after the Red Rams had narrowed its gap to 3-2.
Cedar Ridge will host Eno River Academy in Hillsborough on Monday night. They will host Enloe on Wednesday night, its final game before spring break.
Orange 6, Durham School of the Arts 0: Junior Caroline Cathey earned her first hat trick of the season as the Lady Panthers rolled past the Bulldogs in Hillsborough on Thursday night. Cathey now has four goals on the season.
Elliana Sullivan Gaddy notched two goals for Orange, who improved to 3-1. Ella Wimsatt, added her seventh goal of the season. Wimsatt, who is currently the leading scorer on the team, also assisted on two goals.
Cathey, Kaylen Crayton, Molly Kruse and Lucy Mignosa all had assisted for Orange. Makayla Davis earned the clean sheet as goalkeeper, her second clean sheet of the season.
Orange 5, Eno River Academy 0: In the first-ever women’s soccer game between the two Hillsborough schools, Wimsatt came away with the hat trick as the Lady Panthers earned the win at home.
Sullivan Gaddy and Kyla Mehl also had goals for Orange. Davis played the first half as goalkeeper and was credited with the win. Lexie Stephens played the second half and kept the Bobcats off the scoreboard.
Sullivan Gaddy, Evelyn Gover, Cora Bailey, Kaylen Crayton and Cathey all had assists. Senior wingback Lily Crayton and Channing Mahaney all had solid defensive games for Orange.
The Lady Panthers will travel to Elon to face Western Alamance tonight (Monday).