CHS Soccer Opens Season with Win Strong Weekend Performance in Gatlinburg

The Red Raider soccer team of Coffee County CHS opened the 2017 season in the Smoky Mountain Cup at Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg on Friday and Saturday. Coach Robert Harper was pleased with his team’s performance in the 3 matches as the Red Raiders finished with a record of 2 and 1.
Coffee County opened tournament play on Friday night taking on Dickson County. The Red Raiders, whose season opener on Tuesday was washed out, got a 2 to 1 win over the Cougars to open tournament play. The Red Raiders scored a goal in each half to claim the win. Breyer Taylor had a pair of assists as he set up Ethan Abplanalp in the 25th minute to give the Raiders a 1 to 0 lead at the half. 1 minute into the second half, Coffee County got their second goal as Taylor found Paco Barrera on a feed to give the Raiders a 2 to 0 lead. Dickson County scored their lone goal in the 65th minute off a corner kick as Coffee County opens the season at 1 and 0.
On Saturday, the Red Raiders split their 2 games. Opening with Mary Montgomery out of Alabama, the Red Raiders took the fight to the Alabama visitors to a 3 to 0 win. In the 8th minute, Chase Harper redirected a corner kick from Taylor to give Coffee County a 1 to 0 lead at the half. Harper followed that up in the 43rd minute with an unassisted goal. Taylor scored Coffee County’s final goal in the 46th minute on a corner kick.
In the nightcap, Coffee County tangled with perennial state power Germantown. Coffee County battled the Red Devils toe to toe before falling 1 to 0. Germantown scored their lone goal in the 65th minute on a penalty kick.
The Raiders return home for a match with Cleveland on Monday at the Raider Soccer Field. That match will kick-off at 6 PM.