The Newton County girls’ soccer team picked up a big playoff win last week.
The Lady Cougars opened the Class 4A playoffs with a 2-1 win over Pontotoc. Earlier in the week, Newton County beat Choctaw Central 2-0 to secure second in the division. County then finished the regular season with a 4-0 loss to Florence.
The Newton County boys finished out the regular season with a pair of blowout wins, beating Choctaw Central 8-1 and Florence 6-1.
The Newton County boys finished the regular season as division champions and got a first-round bye in the Class 4A playoffs. They were scheduled to host Corinth on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in second-round action.
The Newton County girls were scheduled to play in the second round on Monday at New Albany in a 6 p.m. contest.
County girls 2, Pontotoc 1
The Lady Cougars opened the Class 4A playoffs with a tight one-goal win over the Lady Warriors on Saturday.
Newton County’s first goal came from Mary Preston Williams, but Pontotoc tied it before halftime. The game-winner came from Emma Claire Thornton off a corner-kick from Mikala Townsend in the 47th minute of the match.
“The girls had a great week. We placed second in the district after the win against Choctaw Central,” County girls coach Sara Thompson said. “The girls beat Pontotoc in the first round of playoffs on Saturday. It wasn’t our best game but a win is a win and we are moving on.”
County girls 2, Choctaw Central 0
The Lady Cougars got a shutout against the Lady Warriors to finish second in division play and get a home playoff game.
Hellen Sanchez scored Newton County’s first goal with an assist from Kaylee Avant while Mary Preston Williams scored the second goal.
Florence girls 4, County 0
The Lady Cougars closed out the regular season with a four-goal loss to the Lady Eagles.
County boys 8, Choctaw Central 1
The Cougars dominated the Warriors and took a seven-goal in division play.
County got goals from five different players in the win. The first goal came from Cade Mangum on an assist from Cole Tadlock. The second goal came from Brian Sanchez while the third was from Lyle Hollingsworth with an assist from Brody Parkes. The fifth goal came from Waheeb Ali while Brian Sanchez got his second goal on an assist from Cade Cooley. Mangum scored his second goal on an assist from Tadlock while Javier Herrera finished off the scoring for Newton County with an unassisted goal.
Newton County boys 6, Florence 1
The Cougars finished out the regular season with a five-goal win over the Eagles.
The Cougars opened the game with back-to-back goals from Cade Mangum with the second on an assist from Brian Sanchez. Collier Mangum scored the third goal on an assist from Henry Lopez. Owen Gipson then scored the fourth and fifth goals of the game with assists from Owen Gipson on each of those. Charley Hollingsworth scored the last goal while Parkes got his third assist of the game.
“We had a big week offensively,” County boys coach Will Thompson said. “A lot of guys were able to get on the scoresheet and it was a good way to wrap up the regular season.”
