Ashbrook, Forestview win on Day 2 of Gazette Cup

GASTONIA – Longtime rivals Forestview and Ashbrook rolled to convincing girls high school soccer victories Wednesday night at a frigid Martha Rivers Park in the Gazette Cup.

Their victories set up another meeting between the teams in a 7 p.m. Friday night semifinal.

Forestview downed Highland Tech 8-1, then Ashbrook shutout Hunter Huss 10-0. Highland Tech and Hunter Huss also meet Friday in a 5:30 p.m. loser’s bracket semifinal.

In the Jaguars’ win in the opener, Mary Leslie Miller, Allison Rodriguez and Lindley Sytz had two goals apiece and Ashley Frady and Tameerah Abbott added single goals apiece.

Miller also had two assists and Rodriguez and Sytz one each and Emily Lindsay and Hannah Baker shared the Jaguars’ goalkeeping duties.

“You like to start off a season like that,” said Forestview coach Sam Braxton, who has 12 returning players from last year’s 13-5-1 team.

Braxton was just happy the tournament is going to be played after Tuesday’s snowfall that postponed games until Wednesday raised concern the tournament could’ve been cancelled like last year’s event was by similar inclement weather.

“We love the Gazette Cup and were disappointed to miss last year,” Braxton said. “We’ll try to make up for it this year.”

Highland Tech averted the shutout with a late goal by Meredith Hinson.

In the nightcap, Ashbrook got three goals from Clare Dotts, two goals from McKenzie Bess and one apiece from Catherine Whitaker, Marlen Lopez, Brooke Kearney, Chelsea Robinette and Kalee Wilson. Kearney also had an assist for the Green Wave, who got the goalkeeping shutout from Erin Williams and Meredith Love.

“It was a great way to start off,” Ashbrook coach Melissa Kiwala said. “I thought we played great team ball and was really happy that multiple players scored for us.”

Forestview tied and beat Ashbrook when the teams met last season.

Gazette Cup 2010

Monday’s results

Kings Mountain 11, North Gaston 0

South Point 5, East Gaston 0

Wednesday’s results

Forestview 8, Highland Tech 1

Ashbrook 10, Hunter Huss 0

Thursday at Martha Rivers Park

North Gaston vs. East Gaston, 5:30 p.m.

Kings Mountain vs. South Point, 7 p.m.

Friday at Martha Rivers Park

Highland Tech vs. Hunter Huss, 5:30 p.m.

Forestview vs. Ashbrook, 7 p.m.

Saturday at Ashbrook

Seventh-place game, 1 p.m.

Fifth-place game, 2:30 p.m.

Third-place game, 4 p.m.

Championship, 5:30 p.m.

Admission: $5   Tournament pass: $12