The Alexander City Outlook

By Ed Bailey

The Benjamin Russell soccer teams’ trip to Smiths Station was a successful one, as both the boys and girls left with victories.
The Lady Wildcats shut down Smiths Station 6-0 to notch their fifth straight win on the year.
The boys won 4-1 in what BRHS soccer coach Sammy Teel described as a bit of a revenge game.
“It was a nice victory,” Teel said. “They saw our record in the Southern Shootout and I don’t think they respected us very much. To come back and beat a 6A school that beat us pretty good and put us out of the playoffs last year was really nice.”
Andy Myers scored first for the Wildcats but Smiths Station answered. Teel said that senior Richie Bradshaw’s leadership helped propel the team from that point on.
“He did a great job of getting the team focused,” Teel said of Bradshaw. “He told the team to step it up and they did exactly what he said. In the Southern Shootout we got down but this time we muscled up.”
The Wildcats scored three unanswered goals to put Smiths Station away. Cole Grogan scored twice and Grant Hudson scored once.
“We’re going to try and build on the victory,” Teel said.
For the girls, Ciera Harrell and Christian Bolden both scored two goals while Paxton Templin and Destiny Milner added goals in another dominant performance for the Lady Wildcats.
“We played really well,” Teel said. “Both the boys and girls team passed and moved the ball well. The girls played outstandingly. It was good team ball.”
With the girls on a hot streak, Teel said he wants to see them continue to build on it.
“We strive to get better,” Teel said. “We’re building a good foundation and a good winning attitude. When we get into area play in a couple weeks, hopefully they can look back on their start and draw from it.”
BRHS soccer has a home match with Wetumpka on Friday. Both the boys and girls will be in action.