Toto scores four, Catty wins
The Catasauqua girls soccer team evened their record at 4-4-2 on the season by trouncing Lehighton 6-0 at Thomas Field Monday evening.
The win nicely positions the Roughs to make a second half run to qualify for the District XI playoffs.
Freshman Haleigh Toto opened the scoring six minutes into the game when a beautiful through ball from Katie Weiss resulted in a one-on-one confrontation with the Lehighton keeper. Toto buried the ball in the back of the net.
The next 24 minutes saw the teams engage in a back and forth possessional battle until Toto forced a turnover in front of the Lehighton goal. Madison Warren banged home the rebound to put the Roughs up 2-0.
Less than half a minute later Toto was once again staring down the keeper with the ball on her foot and the defenders in the dust. And once again the ball crossed the goal line untouched. Catasauqua added the dagger with 6.9 seconds left in the first half when they won a corner and Olivia Emery converted the set piece into a goal, sending Catty into the break up 4-0.
The Lehighton coaches were unable to figure out any way to slow down the speedy Toto and she tallied twice more in the second half leading to the final margin of victory. Amy Huber, Allanah George, Trinity Kern contributed assists during the game. Keeper Maddy Hicks turned in a clean sheet with 11 saves.
Head coach Chris Hain noted that the team has another dynamic striker who could have been paired with Toto if not for injury.
“Brielle (Davies) would have been the other one, but Brielle broke her leg against Pen Argyl in the third game,” he said.
In his first year as Catty’s head coach, Hain is pleased with his team and the support he’s been given.
“Everybody’s been great,” he said. “The girls have been awesome. It’s been a great experience all the way around.”
Over the next week are three games in which the Roughs should like their chances.
On Saturday, the team travels to play a winless Notre Dame of Green Pond. Monday’s home game features a rematch with the year’s first opponent, Northern Lehigh. Catty won that initial game 2-0. Wednesday’s game is also with an opponent the Roughs beat earlier in the year. The team will head to East Stroudsburg to play Notre Dame Sr. High School. The Spartans sit one place behind Catty in the district standings, so this game has important postseason implications.