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Chelsea’s Kailey Littleford has been named one of the country’s top soccer players from the 2020 season after earning a spot on the United Soccer Coaches’ All-Americna team alongside Oak Mountain’s Ryan Webb. (File)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

NORTH SHELBY – The No. 1 ranked Chelsea girls soccer team continued its strong season on Tuesday, March 3, with a road victory against the Briarwood Lions.

In a game that featured two teams with recent success, the Hornets took advantage of a fast 3-0 start early in the game and never looked back en route to a 5-1 victory to improve on an already strong run early in the season.

Entering the season with redemption on Chelsea’s mind after last year’s heartbreaking end in the Final Four, the Hornets are proving early on and a big reason why is the success of returning team captain Kailey Littleford.

There were several times last year where Littleford went off for multiple goals and that’s been no different early this season.

The senior scored two early goals in this game to help play a part in the quick 3-0 lead.

But she followed the first goal, which was scored by sophomore Avery Burleson.

After a scoreless first 14 minutes of the game, the Hornets were finally able to string together their first successful stretch of the game, which led to Burleson burying a shot in the back of the net for a 1-0 lead.

It took less than two minutes for Littleford to get in on the action, as she scored Chelsea’s second goal with 24:02 remaining in the opening half. Then, less than nine minutes later, she found the net again with 15:35 to play in the period, which put the Hornets on top 3-0.

While Briarwood never gave up throughout the night against one of the state’s best teams regardless of classification, that 3-0 hole was too much to come back from with Chelsea’s relentless offense and defense.

The Lions did find one goal during the game, but it wasn’t enough.

Chelsea’s win came less than a week after head coach Jonathan Hammett picked up his 200th career win, as the Hornets have already had a special season.

They’re now 4-2-1 overall this season with area play on the horizon.

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