By PAMELA SCOTT JOHNSON

Sports Editor

GOODY, Ky. – The Tug River rivalry officially began yesterday evening when the Mingo Central Miners tunneled their way to Belfry High School to battle the Pirates in girls’ and boys’ soccer games.

Inexperience was definitely a factor when the Mingo gals took the field for their first game of the season. The Lady Pirates easily defeated the Miners 10-0 to improve their record to 3-2-2 on the season. This was the Lady Miners’ first game of the season.

The guys in blue put up a battle but, were also a bit green in the game and BHS took the V with a 9-1 win. The Pirates are now 5-1 with their lone loss coming at the hands of the Hazard Bulldogs on Aug. 30.

A nice crowd was on hand to watch the games and witness the beginning of what is sure to be huge rivalry between the two schools.

The ladies took the field first and while BHS had no problem putting away the Miners, the Lady Pirates were not above helping their neighbors learn more about the game. In a show of good sportsmanship, BHS senior Caitlin Woolum advised Miner Kennedy Preece where to place the ball before kicking to her team.

Woolum scored three goals to pace the Pirates in the V. Her first goal was unassisted in the second minute. The senior scored again on an assist from Megan Smith in the fifth minute.

Kasey Tackett put the Pirates up 3-0 with a penalty kick in the ninth minute of the game. Woolum found the net in the 11 minute for her third and final goal with an assist from Smith.

Trystannei Cool hit paydirt in the 15 minute unassisted and Hannah Coleman followed on an assist by Taylor Finley in the 29 minute.

Ashley Stepp popped in the next two goals at the 35 minute and the 40 plus one to give the Pirates an 8-0 halftime lead.

Smith saw net in the 55 minute and Brayleigh Lowe scored in the 58 minute to stop the game.

This was BHS goalie Caitlyn Hunt’s second shutout of the year.

Two players guarded the net for Central. Kennedy Preece began the game and was relieved by Summer Cline.

Belfry had 26 shots at the goal and held MCHS to only two tries.

The Lady Pirates travel to Boyd County Sept. 10 with the game set to start at 3 p.m. Central will be at home against Johnson Central, Ky. at Tiger Stadium in Matewan. This game will also begin at 3 p.m.

It was almost the same score in the boys’ game with a lot more physical action displayed by the Miner fellows.

Shaun Mounts began the scoring for the Bucs in the ninth minute unassisted. Brett Charles kicked in the second goal at the 15 minute mark with a Mounts assist.

Bobby Goad made it 3-0 at the 22 minute on a Charles’ assist. It was Charles’ turn at the 24 minute with a Mounts’ assist.

During the 39 minute, Gideon Workman kicked the ball off of MCHS Tyler Smith. The ball bounced into the net for an “own goal” point.

BHS led at the half 5-0.

The Miners got on the board in the second half when Chance Hatfield scored at the 45 minute mark on an assist from Riley Reed.

It was all Belfry after that point.

Mounts scored in the 45 minute on an assist from Charles. Cody Dean hit the net unassisted at the 58 minute mark. Logan Slater added to the lead at the 69 minute on a Dean assist and Jonathan Freeman wrapped it up for the Pirates at the 74 minute on a penalty kick.

Freeman was the Belfry goalie while Marcus Cunningham served as Mingo Central’s goalie.

The Pirates had 36 shots on goal and held Central to nine.

The BHS boys’ game against Boyd County will follow the girls and Mingo Central boys will follow the Miner ladies.

Belfry improved to 5-1-0 on the season and Mingo fell to 0-3-0.

The Miners are coached by Leslie Hobbs. Leading the Pirates in their seventh year with a soccer team is Haridas Chandran.