RHS girls’ soccer team earns clean sheet against Haleyville to start 2024 season

The Russellville girls’ soccer team blanked Haleyville 2-0 at Golden Tiger Stadium to win its season-opening match Thursday night.

Goals on either side of the halftime break saw the Golden Tigers through to the win. Ermelina Ponce opened her account in the first half to give the home side its first goal of the season. Nadia Mendez followed it up with a goal in the second half to clinch it.

Russellville head coach Dalaney Roberts said the win is a testament to the work her team has put in during the preseason.

“Our program as a whole is young, but there are a lot of eager players who are willing to put in the work,” she said. “We have had several 5:30 practices on Saturday mornings to get extra touches on the ball. The girls have committed to those times to work around their work schedules, which I think is really quite wonderful. Their priorities feel aligned with our mission and it's a prideful moment as a coach.”

Getting the first match and first win under their belt will allow the Golden Tigers to focus on just playing the way they want to play, Roberts said. 

“First game jitters played a role starting the season off,” Roberts said. “Now that we have that behind us congruent with our first win, the girls are hungrier than ever to see the season through with consistency and perseverance.”

“The varsity team has been working very intentionally on things at practice that we feel will take our team to the next level,” she added.

The Russellville girls’ junior varsity squad also saw action Thursday night. The JV Golden Tigers brushed aside Haleyville 10-0 to trigger the mercy rule before full time. Maricela Andres took up most of the room on the scoresheet, putting seven goals past the Lions. Heidy Jacobo added a brace for the Golden Tigers and Yosilin Lopez scored the final goal of the game.

“This was an exceptional evening with (junior varsity) winning their first game since the 2021 season,” Roberts said.

Russellville will travel to Mars Hill for its next match. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Monday, Feb. 12.