Soccercats split a pair with Walton

CHIPLEY – The Chipley Tigers soccercats split a pair with Walton Monday, with the girls taking a 5-0 win and the boys dropping a tough 4-1 match.

The Lady Tigers struck early as Mikayla Bruner scored two goals and Joanie Barefield scored one to give Chipley a 3-0 halftime lead. Goalie Abby Wigginton was sharp all evening as the Lady Tigers dominated throughout.

Holly Cutts and Erin Solger scored in the second half as the Lady Tigers went to 1-3 on the season.

“We were much more aggressive,” said Coach Terry Ellis, “and in the second half did a much better job of communicating.”

The boys put up a tough fight against a talented Walton team, trailing just 1-0 at halftime. Goalie Chris Spencer and a good defense kept the Braves at bay, giving up just one goal to Mike Kitzler.

Walton took a 2-0 lead when Ricardo Ramirez lofted a shot into the Chipley net, but the Tigers came back to 2-1 when Colby Obert headed a shot in for Chipley (0-3).

The Braves (1-1) put the game away on goals by Ramirez and Joey Rodriguez.

“We didn’t have enough offense in the first game,” said Walton Coach Steve Stephenson, “so we changed up our front line.’ The pair of Kitzler and Ramierz moved the ball upfield effectively all night.

Chipley Coach Justin Ellis noted that the Tigers had a long holiday layoff, “but they played hard and keep showing me they are willing to put forth the effort.”