Westwood’s Felix Salinas in dark blue (file photo)
A four goal performance by Felix Salinas helped the Westwood Rockets soccer team build a 7 to 1 halftime lead on their way to a 9 to 3 season opening win over Cascade on Tuesday night. Salinas notched all 4 of his tallies in the first half on the muddy and sloppy pitch in Wartrace. Leo Basurto scored 2 assists as the Rockets got the big conference win. Keeper Cailan McLean had 5 saves on the match as Coach Jonathan Graf was complimentary of his defensive and midfield play in the wet conditions. Samuel Workman, Renato Ayala, Jalen Shelton, Eric Randolph and Angel Gonzales all tallied scores for Westwood.
The Rockets will also be on the road on Thursday as they travel to Fayetteville to take on Lincoln County. The Rockets host their first home game on Tuesday, March 1st when St. Andrews visits Dyer-Bouldin Field for a 4:30 PM contest.
Filip Forsberg notched a natural hat trick as the Nashville Predators defeated the Toronto Maple Leafs by a 3-2 final on Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre. The victory gives Nashville 29 wins and 69 points on the season; the club has points in seven consecutive contests.
“We talked about [playing consistently] a lot, and the last couple games, we have played a lot of good games,” defenseman Roman Josi said. “Even the games we lost, we played pretty well, and that’s what we need. In this League, you just have to collect points somehow. You want to win every game, but even if you find a way to get one point in some games, it’s a good thing.”
Much like last night in Montreal, the Preds capitalized early, this time on the power play, when Mike Ribeiro fed Filip Forsberg, who broke through the Toronto defense and put a shot past James Reimer for a 1-0 lead at 5:46. The goal was Forsberg’s 21st of the season, tying him with James Neal for the team lead.
As the second period began, it was Forsberg again, this time with an assist from Craig Smith after he took advantage of a Reimer turnover behind his own net. Smith fed Forsberg in front for his second tally of the evening.
Then, less than two minutes later, the Swede completed the natural hat trick off a loose puck at the side of the cage for his 23rd goal of the season and first-career, regular-season hat trick.
“It was great,” Forsberg said of his hat trick. “It put our team in a good spot at 3-0 and it was all that we needed for tonight.”
“His first goal was really nice,” Josi said of Forsberg. “He was under a lot of pressure, and that’s what he does. He’s got that killer instinct in front of the net and a great release. He’s been great the last few games.”
Toronto added two late, but Carter Hutton and the Preds held the fort, securing the victory and giving Nashville four out of a possible four points on the trip thus far, which will conclude Thursday in Chicago.
“Two wins is always good,” Josi said. “We have one more game, and it’s going to be a tough one against Chicago, one of the best teams in the League. Hopefully, we can get another win.”
Filip Forsberg didn’t forget how to score goals. It took the 21-year-old winger 22 games to register three tallies to start the season. Slowly, but surely, they started to come with regularity. He even scored six in a six-game stretch from Feb. 6-18.
On Tuesday night in Toronto, Forsberg hit the exclamation point, first tying and then taking over the team lead in goals and recording a natural hat trick, the first in his career of the regular season variety.
“Well, I wish he scored three goals every night,” Head Coach Peter Laviolette quipped. “He was really good tonight. Their line has been really playing lights out, maybe the last half dozen games. They’ve been really noticeable. Mike Ribeiro’s been really good, Craig Smith’s been really good. Filip has had great jump. He’s had lots of opportunities to put the puck at the net tonight. He’s just using his size, his speed and his skill. He’s playing really well right now.”
Never one to take too much of the credit, Forsberg also praised his linemates Craig Smith and Mike Ribeiro for contributing to his success over the past handful of games.
“Me and [Ribeiro and Smith] have really connected lately and are just playing really good hockey,” Forsberg said. “We’re spending a lot of time in the offensive zone and that helps a lot, and I think it’s just hanging around the net and getting two greasy ones tonight.”
Laviolette has also been impressed with the trio, especially the play of Forsberg who has turned it on as the final stretch drive continues.
“They’re all moving pretty good right now,” Laviolette said. “Once you get speed of an attack, they’re all skilled players, once you get speed in the offensive zone, good things can happen out there. They are talented players. Filip can shoot the puck.”
The Predators conclude their road trip on Thursday night in Chicago as they take on the Blackhawks. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of that 7 PM game on the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.
Westwood soccer teams celebrates after their 2015 conference championship win. (File Photo)
The spring sports season gets under way on Tuesday as the Westwood soccer team travels to Wartrace for the regular season opener at Cascade. That matchup with the Champions is set to kickoff at 4:30 PM. The Rockets are coming off a conference title last year as Coach Jonathan Graf attempts to make his 3rd straight appearance in the conference tournament finals. The Rockets will also be on the road on Thursday as they travel to Fayetteville to take on Lincoln County. The Rockets host their first home game on Tuesday, March 1st when St. Andrews visits Dyer-Bouldin Field for a 4:30 PM contest.
The Coffee County Central High School soccer team will also be in action this afternoon as the travel to Smyrna to take on Stewarts Creek in their first preseason action of the spring. The Red Raiders, who advanced to the district title game and the region semifinals last season, have a busy week on tap themselves. They return home on Saturday as they are HOSTING a scrimmage tournament this coming weekend.
Craig Smith missed what looked like a certain goal in overtime. He atoned for the botched opportunity in the shootout.
Smith beat Mike Condon for the only goal of the tiebreaker, lifting the Nashville Predators to a 2-1 victory over the struggling Montreal Canadiens on Monday night.
Smith’s shootout goal came after he blew a big chance in the final minute of overtime. He was all alone at the edge of the crease, but couldn’t punch it in.
”At the moment I couldn’t believe it,” Nashville goalie Pekka Rinne said. ”But it’s hockey.
”It’s probably not an easy situation when he was the third shooter in the shootout and was able to make that move. It was huge. I was so happy for him after what happened in OT.”
The Predators are 1-10 in games decided in overtime this season, but they are 3-1 when it goes to a shootout. However, it was their first shootout since a loss to Toronto on Nov. 12. Nashville will face the Maple Leafs again Tuesday night in Toronto.
The Preds are 3-0-3 in their last six games.
”It’s been a while,” Rinne said. ”You go through shootout situations in practice, but it’s been three months and that’s a long time during a season.
”But it’s a huge win. (Max) Pacioretty had me big time (with Montreal’s third shot of the shootout) and it’s a good thing the puck was bouncing. I got a little lucky there.”
Viktor Arvidsson scored in the first period for the Predators (28-21-11), who are in playoff position at fourth in the Central Division, one point ahead of Colorado with two games in hand.
Brendan Gallagher scored his 16th goal for Montreal (28-27-5), which has won only four of its last 12 games.
”It was a one-bounce game,” Pacioretty said. ”It was tougher when this (slump) first started to happen, trying to find answers and block out the outside noise, but I think we got better at it and started just worrying about the process each day.
”Since we’ve taken that mindset we’ve had some better results. We have to keep at it.”
Nashville outshot Montreal 29-27 in regulation time and 30-29 overall.
The Predators dominated the start of the game, leading 8-1 in shots at one point, and got the first goal at 3:16 when Arvidsson banged in James Neal’s rebound with Nashville playing with six attackers on a delayed penalty.
Montreal found its rhythm late in the period and Gallagher was at the doorstep to lift Andrei Markov’s rebound over Rinne at 19:49.
The only highlight of a dull second period was a big glove save by Condon on a Smith laser from the slot 12 minutes in.
The red light went on behind Rinne with 2:33 left in the third after a mad scramble in which defenseman Roman Josi swept the puck out of the crease with a glove, but there were so many fouls from both sides on the same play the referees called none. Video review showed the puck never crossed the goal line.
The Predators now travel to Toronto for a Tuesday night game with the Maple Leafs. That game will get underway at 6:30 PM and Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast as part of the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.
David Weathers, who pitched for the Motlow Bucks in 1988, was recently inducted into the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA) Hall of Fame. Weathers was drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 3rd round of the MLB draft following his season at Motlow and went on to pitch 19 seasons in the big leagues. Pictured, from left; Foster Chason, Commissioner of the TCCAA, Weathers, and Dr. Tony Kinkel, Motlow State president. Photo by Jeff Reed Photography.
Garrett Eldridge of CHS Basketball(Photo by Jay Bailey – Manchester Times)
A fourth quarter rally by the Coffee County was not enough on Friday night as Shelbyville ended the Red Raiders basketball season in the quarterfinal round of the District 8AAA tournament. Trailing by 15 points entering the final frame, the Red Raiders scored 5 quick points in the first 90 seconds of the 4th quarter before the Eagles reeled off an 11 to 2 run to seal Coffee County’s fate captured the 61 to 45 win. Junior Garrett Eldridge led Coffee County in scoring with 19 points and was named the Gateway Tire and Service Center player of the game. Grant Sadler added 8 points and Stephen Sullivan added 7 points for the Raiders who finish the season with a record of 9 and 17.
A pair of Coffee County Central High School softball players signed papers to continue their softball careers at Dyersburg State in a ceremony at CHS on Friday. Abby Woods and Maegan Phillips each have accepted scholarship offers to attend and play for the West Tennessee community college program. Dyersburg State is a member of the Tennessee Community College Athletic Association (TCCAA). The Lady Eagles softball team is coached by George White.
CHS Senior Abby Woods(center) signs with Dyersburg State surrounded by family and coaches. Front Row(L to R) Lisa Woods(mother), Abby Woods, Chip Woods(father), Ashley & Cooper Woods(Sister/brother) Second Row – Robert Brewington & Steve McNeal(travel ball coaches), Brandon McWhorter(former high school coach), Steve Wilder(Lady Raider head coach) & Judith StClair(former high school coach
When asked about why they chose Dyersburg State, both were impressed with the size of the campus and how well they liked the coach and their future teammates. “Coach White was easy to talk with and told me that I would have opportunities to play if I worked hard” said Woods who projects to be an outfielder at the college level. Phillips echoed the same sentiments adding, “Coach Wilder helped line this up for us and my favorite part will be that I will have Abby(Woods) there too.” Phillips hopes to remain as a catcher in college but could also fill a corner infield position.
CHS Senior Maegan Phillips(center) signs with Dyersburg State surrounded by family and coaches. Front Row(L to R) Diane Dyce(travel ball coach), Tracy Phillips(mother), Maegan Phillips, Stan Phillips(father), Lawson Phillips(brother) Second Row – Robert Brewington & Steve McNeal(travel ball coaches), Brandon McWhorter(former high school coach), Steve Wilder(Lady Raider head coach) & Judith StClair(former high school coach)
New Lady Raider softball coach Steve Wilder had nothing but praise for the 2 seniors. “They will fit in well up there because they have a great work ethic and that is something that Coach Floyd instilled in them. They are a product of a program built on success by Coach Floyd and Coach Breeden before him that will serve them well in college ball.”
