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Melissa Collins, Sarah Whatley lead Lady Mustangs past Erwin
Kitlin Ritchie

Kaitlin Ritchie (light jersey) scored two goals for Smoky Mountain in last Thursday's 9-0 romp past Erwin. - Herald photo by Carey Phillips

 Melissa Collins and Sarah Whatley both scored three goals last Thursday leading Smoky Mountain to a 9-0 Western Athletic Conference soccer victory over Erwin at Carr Hooper Stadium/Babe Howell Field.

Kaitlin Ritchie added a pair of goals.

"It's important getting conference wins," Coach Chris Griffin said. "We started out sluggish and weren't focused. That's something we definitely need to change. The second half was much better. Our passing was better, and we were pleased with the second half effort."

The Lady Mustangs took 28 shots while holding Erwin to one. Stacy Compton made 11 saves for the Lady Warriors, and SM's Lindsey Lewis had one.

Whatley opened the scoring 4:50 into the contest with an assist from Collins. She took a deflected shot and put it in the net.

Collins scored from the left side at the 27-minute mark with an assist from Brittany Hilton for a 2-0 lead.

A breakaway by Whatley off an assist from Keeley Moll made it 3-0 at the 34-minute mark. The margin was 4-0 at intermission after Kaitlin Ritchie scored from the right side off of Katie Loughlin's assist with a minute left in the half.

The lead reached 5-0 when Ritchie's shot deflected off the goalie and into the net at the 45-minute mark.

Whatley's final goal came four minutes later making the score 6-0.

The last three goals came in a five-minute span late in the game. Collins scored at the 70- and 75-minute marks. In between, Sunny Davies scored with an assist from Lewis at the 73-minute mark.

Back to Sports: 03/29/01.