Hornets capture 2nd state title

HUNTSVILLE – The Chelsea High School girls soccer team capitalized early and never allowed Southside-Gadsden any traction in a 2-0 win in the Class 6A final on Saturday at John Hunt Park in Huntsville.

The win gave the Hornets their second girls soccer state title, with the first coming in 2012. Chelsea defeated Northview on Friday to advance to the final.

“It’s hard to get here and you can’t take it for granted, because you never know when the next time is going to be when you get here,” said Chelsea coach Jonathan Hammett.

Haley Greene got the Hornets on the board first, just 4:15 into the contest. Her goal gave her team a lift that it was able to carry the rest of the way, despite some adversity.

“It always is,” said Hammett of the importance of getting the first goal. “We were able to play from there a little more relaxed.”

Despite dominating possession for the majority of the contest, Chelsea had trouble breaking through again, and went a man down in the 55th minute when MyKenzie Haley was sent off with a red card.

But Chelsea battled through that and landed the decisive blow with just a few minutes remaining in the contest, as University of North Alabama signee Madeline Guillen scored off a set piece to put the Hornets up 2-0.

“I was really excited for her and it was just a great win for the team,” Hammett said. “To see the parents’ faces and to see the kids’ faces, that’s what it’s about. It’s really interesting and enjoyable for me to watch their celebration, watch their reaction, because there’s a whole generation of players that came through that didn’t get to experience that.”

Hammett also pointed out the situation of Kaitlyn Willis, a senior that was on the junior varsity team as an eighth-grader when Chelsea won its first state championship. Other seniors for the Hornets include keeper Sabrina Lang, Haley, Guillen, Madison Smith and Kh’Lari South.