On August 22 Smith County Lady Owls opened District play by hosting Cannon County. These two teams have not been in the same district since the 2020 season. Due to the recent hot weather the game kickoff was delayed by half an hour and the game included water stoppages. The first break was at 24 minutes with the game still being scoreless. After the break the Lady Owls decided to make playing in the heat worth it. Aubrey Felice took the lead by scoring off a corner from Senior Captain Brooklyn Sensabaugh. It only took 30 seconds for Sensabaugh to follow suit by adding her own score with an assist from Addie Cripps. With 10 minutes left in the half Felice would set up a play only to be fouled by Cannon County that led to a free kick by Chloe Gill. This kick would give Gill her first high school goal, to put the Lady Owls up 3-0. Four minutes later Felice would assist Aubree Spain for goal number 4. Then with a minute and a half left in the first, Spain would assist Aubrey Felice for her second goal of the game and taking the half with a score of 5-0.
While there were opportunities in the second half, the goalkeepers kept the net clear on both ends. Catie Belle Mccarter, the freshman Lady Owl Keeper, showed up big with some great saves and kept a clean sheet for Smith County. The defenders, led by Senior Captain Abbi Williams, and the midfield worked hard in the suppressive heat, playing a physical game and getting the job done for the first district win of the season.
Next the Lady Owls travel to Gatlinburg this weekend for the annual Smoky Mountain Cup tournament and then return to regular season play on Thursday August 31 on the road for District match against Jackson County. (Photos and article submitted by Vivian Schaffers) 
