Lady Canes advance to Sweet Sixteen

The Cartersville Lady Canes’ soccer team went on the road Thursday to defeat Heritage-Catoosa 4-1 in Ringgold and advanced to the second round of the Class AAAA state tournament.

The Lady Canes will now meet St. Pius X (11-6-2) in the Sweet Sixteen in Atlanta. The 3rd-ranked Golden Lions, champions of Region 8-AAAA, edged Chestatee in the opening round of the playoffs, 2-1.

Cartersville scored in the first ten minutes Thursday to take a lead it would not relinquish.

Courtney Rhea scored off a cross from Micah Vance for the opening tally. Vance then added a second goal on a breakaway that put the Lady Canes ahead, 2-0.

Heritage narrowed the margin to 2-1, but a goal by Claire Choate (photo wearing No. 11) off another Vance assist put Cartersville ahead 3-1 at the intermission.

Kalyn Donegan added a final Canes goal in the opening minutes of the second half and Cartersville fended off the Lady Generals for the remainder of the half for a 4-1 win.

Keeper Kalli Scheff was credited with one of her best games of the year at the back end of the Lady Canes’ defense. She had at least ten high quality saves.

Cartersville improved to 11-7 on the year.