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Chelsea’s girls soccer team opened the season with a shutout victory on the road at Thompson in what was originally supposed to be a home game. (For the Reporter/Larry Dancy)

By SETH HAGAN | For the Reporter

ALABASTER – The preseason No. 1 ranked Chelsea Hornets had to change plans and adjust for their first game of the season on Tuesday, Feb. 12, but ultimately showed why they’re favored to take the 6A crown in 2019.

A full day of rain left Chelsea’s field unfit for play, so instead of hosting the season’s first game, the Hornets had to travel to county foe Thompson High School instead.

However, if one hadn’t been privy to that knowledge before the game you wouldn’t have been able to tell by the Hornets’ performance. A late start and a change of scenery didn’t faze them, as they handled the Thompson Warriors with a 5-0 victory to start the 2019 season.

“I thought we came out of the gates fast, that was my main concern was how well we would start games,” said Hornets’ head coach Jonathan Hammett. “But I saw a lot of good stuff during warmups, the energy was real high, the touches were crisp and it translated to the field early.”

Chelsea (1-0) possessed the ball for the majority of the game’s opening minutes. The Hornets’ ability was obvious from the start as their speed, ball handling and movement set them apart.

They got off 19 shots in the first half putting 12 of them on goal. Thompson’s Chloe Sims recorded 10 saves in that same time span and performed admirably, deflecting several would-be goals, but ultimately couldn’t keep the Hornets out of the net.

Chelsea’s first goal came on a penalty kick in the seventh minute as junior Morgan Bright was fouled in the penalty box going for a goal. Bright quickly buried her shot into the left side of the net to give the Hornets a 1-0 lead.

The second goal came seven minutes later as Sims deflected an initial shot, but Lexie Duca was there to clean up the rebound to ratchet Chelsea’s lead to 2-0, which became the halftime score after a quiet final 20 minutes to the half.

“We really were able to control the flow of the game with our quick passes and ability to possess the ball,” Hammett said. “That started creating shots and we started putting some in the net.”

The Hornets were even more efficient in the second half even though they had fewer opportunities. Five minutes into the period 2018 All-State First Team selection Claire Guillen took a cross from the left side and lifted a shot just inside the box that floated narrowly over the outstretched goalie’s hands and into the net for the 3-0 lead.

Haley Duca finished things off for the Hornets to start her sophomore year off with a boom, as she netted the team’s final two goals.

The first found her in the penalty box as she ripped a short shot into the upper left corner. The second showcased her range, as she took a shot several yards outside the box and again hit the left side of the net prompting a big cheer and high fives from her teammates.

Haley is the little sister of senior midfielder of Lexie, both of whom return to a loaded Hornets team along with junior forward and Kailey Littleford, which has the Hornets excited for this year.

Add them to the aforementioned Guillen and it’s easy to see why Hammett likes what he’s seeing so far.

“I think just overall everybody did very well in their individual responsibilities in terms of not trying to be the individual hero,” Hammett said. “If we work together as a team there are a lot of things we can accomplish, but we have a long ways to go.”

The Hornets will continue that journey and stay on the road for their next match against another county opponent, 4A-5A No. 5 ranked Briarwood Christian which will kick off Tuesday, Feb 19 at 5 p.m. Thompson (0-1) will stay at home and welcome Gadsden City Friday, Feb 15 at 7 p.m.

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