High School Sports, Russellville Golden Tigers, Sports
 By  Staff Reports Published 
9:26 am Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Russellville girls nab first-ever soccer win

By Kim West for the FCT

When a school starts a girls soccer program, it’s commonplace to go one or two seasons without a win while playing against well-established teams – or to experience being mercy-ruled, which means being outscored by ten goals at any point in the second half of a match. But a young and resilient Russellville girls team is defying the odds after opening its inaugural season with a 3-0 loss to Haleyville Feb. 16 and a 2-0 loss to Tanner Feb. 21. In only their third game, the Lady Golden Tigers dug deep to claim an exhilarating 3-2 double-overtime win against Ardmore (0-3, 0-1) in Class 4A-5A, Area 16 play.

After a scoreless first half, Russellville (1-2, 1-0) fell behind on a penalty kick by Ardmore forward Katie Taylor. Then the Lady Golden Tigers knotted the score at 1-1 on a Carmen Perez corner kick that deflected off an Ardmore defender for their first-ever goal.

Russellville freshman striker Zayra Perez corralled a rebound opportunity created by a Gisel Perez shot and collision with the Ardmore keeper, grabbing a 2-1 lead in the final minute. But Ardmore earned a direct kick in the closing seconds of regulation, with Taylor curling in a masterful shot around the Russellville defensive wall and in the upper left corner of the goal to send the game into overtime.

Neither team netted a golden goal in the first half of overtime, with each half allotted five minutes if necessary. Two minutes into the second overtime, Zayra Perez sent the ball toward the goal, and Gisel Perez slammed it home while running back-post.

“It was a great game. Our girls believed they could win the ballgame, and my job is making sure they believe they can win every game,” Russellville Head Coach Trey Stanford said. “That goal by Ardmore to make it 2-2 was like a dagger in the heart, but our girls never gave up.”

A driving force for the team’s early success has been a never-quit defense and nimble freshman goalkeeper Briana Ramirez, who has 22 saves in three games.

“Honestly, our keeper is unbelievable because we’ve been shot on a lot. I knew I needed to have someone stronger in goal because most of our players have never played soccer,” Stanford said. “But they see their boys play and know what’s expected in Russellville. They know they have to come to play every night.”

Friday and Saturday, the Lady Golden Tigers will play Tanner, Boaz and Hazel Green in the River City Shootout at Jack Allen Recreation Complex in Decatur. They will play at Ardmore at 5 p.m. March 7.

Also on Franklin County Times
County school board adopts $52M budget
Main, News, Russellville, ...
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE Franklin County Schools has adopted a $52 million budget for fiscal year 2026, reflecting a $2.5 million increase over last year. The bud...
Judge denies YO status for Phinizee
Main, News, Z - News Main
Bernie Delinski For the FCT 
September 17, 2025
FLORENCE — Youthful offender status was denied Tuesday for a 17-year-old charged with the death of a 13-yearold during what authorities said was a rob...
RCS passes $43.3M budget
Main, News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- The city school board has approved a $43.3 million budget for the 2025-26 school year. Chief Financial Officer Lisa Witt said revenues...
Program tackles stress of caregiver burnout
News, Records, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE -- Many people deal with caregiver burnout. Kids and Kin childcare partner Marquita Wilson presented a program at the Russellville Public...
Flavil Wayne McCaig
Obituaries
September 17, 2025
Flavil Wayne McCaig Sept. 12, 2025   Flavil Wayne McCaig, 82, of Russellville, passed away Sept. 12 at his residence. He was born March 3, 1943, to Au...
Cultura Garden Club begins its year with roses and plans for fall
Columnists, News, Opinion
HERE AND NOW
September 17, 2025
The Cultura Garden Club held its first meeting of the year. President Cheri McCain presided. She provided information on projects and programs for the...
We can’t afford to lose electric vehicle industry
Columnists, Opinion
September 17, 2025
In Alabama, we understand what it means to build things that matter. We’ve long been home to builders and winners – our steel won wars and built the s...
Firefighters, cadets honor 9/11 with stair climbs
News, Russellville
María Camp maria.camp@franklincountytimes.com 
September 17, 2025
RUSSELLVILLE – Firefighters and RHS JROTC cadets participated in a stair climb in recognition of the 24th anniversary of 9-11. Sgt. Grant Tarascou and...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *