Cats defeat DeKalb, Upperman 6-0 each

In recent years, there’s been two dominating soccer teams in District 7, 2A, Livingston Academy and Cumberland County, and it’s going to be that way again this year as the regular season rolls to a close and district tournament time is near.

“It’s been us or them,” LA Head Coach David Sadler II pointd out. “Over the past several seasons, we have both been strong in region play, and it usually winds down to the two of us playing for the district championship. They (Cumberland County) are very fundamental, well coached, and know how to get the most out of their effort. My players really enjoy playing them because they know they’re up against a very good team, and you only get better yourself if you play the best teams.”

And the two clashed last Thursday night for the first time this season, and when the final horn blew, it was a free kick by the Jets that won the game, 1-0.

“That was a really good match,” LA senior Tripp Sadler pointed out after the game. “Both teams showed why they are on top of the district, and either could have won tonight. They got a free kick and we didn’t, and I’m sure we’ll see them again in the district championship game.”

Both teams went up and down the field throughout the evening, but a free kick in the first half spelled the difference. It was Livingston’s fourth loss of the season, but the other three came early in the season in non-district tournament action in the Smokey Mt. Cup.

In action earlier in the week, the Wildcats showed just how powerful they are, scoring 12 goals in two matches while holding opponents to zero. Livingston blanked DeKalb County Monday night 6-0, and blasted rival Upperman 6-0 on Senior Night Tuesday.

Tripp Sadler had perhaps the best night of his career Monday when he pulled off the “hat trick” scoring three goals in the win over DeKalb. Bryson Mann, Jackson Lindsay, and Waylon Johnson each added one goal apiece, and goalie Elijah Robinson had eight saves.

On Tuesday, eight LA seniors celebrated Senior Night with the fans and parents and included players Sadler, Dylan Watson, Dylan Holman, Clayton Ledbetter, Sujal Patel, and Robinson. Senior managers included Neel Patel and Branson Ford.

It looked for a while like the halftime ceremonies might not take place as Livingston scored six goals before the intermission, and a 9-0 score would end the game.

“I didn’t tell them not to score,” Coach Sadler laughed, “but I was a little nervous thinking they just might, and that would have changed the Senior Night program around a little.”

Livingston had no trouble scoring on the Upperman team, putting the ball in the net about every six and a half minutes, and keeping the ball on the Bees’ end of the field almost the entire game. In the initial half, goalie Robinson only needed one save.

“This is a very good team all around,” Coach Sadler explained. “They are in good shape, know where they are all the time, and where the ball needs to go. We’ve scored a lot and held opponents to a few points, and it’s coming together at the right time as we head towards the district tournament.”

Livingston has three games remaining in regular season play, at Kingston Thursday, April 25, then home on Thursday, May 2 against Jackson County, and the final regular season game on Saturday, May 4, at Watertown, a makeup game from earlier in the season.