Lexington’s goals starting to add up

In their first game of the Nike Palmetto Cup, the Lexington Wildcats posted a 3-0 win over Heathwood Hall at Brookland-Cayce on Wednesday.

Lexington coach Will Gettys was encouraged by his team’s performance as it improved to 4-9-1.

“The good thing today was we scored three goals in the first half,” he said. “We have struggled mightily all season to get goals in. To get three goals and post the shutout, that’s going to be a lot of confidence for our team,” Gettys said.

The Wildcats had only scored goals in their previous 12 games and had not scored more than two goals in a game.

Lexington got two goals from Sam Plumer, and an overzealous Heathwood Hall defense put one in its own net.

“I wouldn’t really say it was nerves. It was our guy trying to make a play,” Highlanders coach Andrew Richardson said.

“For us, just being able to come into a tournament like this is huge for our program. It’s an opportunity to measure ourselves against not just Columbia and the state, but the best that the nation has to offer,” he said. “So, I was disappointed that the moment, that playing in such a big tournament we weren’t ready from the opening whistle.”

But Richardson, whose team fell to 6-3, was encouraged by his team’s ability to hold off Lexington’s attack and create its own scoring opportunities in the second half.

Gettys said the Wildcats are eager for their next chance to replicate their Wednesday performance.

“Playing simple like we did today, just playing one and two touch, seems to work for us, so that’s what we’re going to do,” he said.

As the Palmetto Cup continues on Thursday, Lexington plays Calhoun County at 2 p.m., and Heathwood Hall playsBrookland Cayce. The tournament concludes on Saturday with a 2:15 p.m. championship.

This story was originally published April 8, 2015 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Lexington’s goals starting to add up."