The Chamblee Lady Bulldogs soccer team continued their run of dominance with a 6-1 win over a strong Lakeside team on Saturday, taking them to a 7-0-1 record on the season. After winning the state championship last year, the team has looked better than ever this season, and their stellar record has seen them currently ranked number one in the state among not only the 5A girls but all of the classes. Their decisive victory over Lakeside was another in a string of wins coming off a 4-1 win over St. Pius the day before that has helped bring them to a great place looking toward the rest of the season and toward their playoff hopes.

“I think we did great in recovering from the Pius game and letting the ball do the work. It’s hard to play a Friday night game and then a Saturday day game back to back,” said goalkeeper Mary Entrekin.

The first half was filled with action, and the Lady Bulldogs came out strong, instantly controlling the midfield with neat tackles and a balance of careful possession and direct attacking. The first of unfortunately many injury stoppages would halt their momentum temporarily, and not long after, Lakeside player Olivia Losken was able to release a promising shot five minutes into the game, Lakeside’s first, but among their few in a game where Chamblee’s defense would prove nearly impenetrable. 

Just two minutes later, Chamblee’s offensive flair was on full display as midfielder Alessandra Washington opened the scoring. After neatly driving past multiple defenders, she beat Lakeside keeper Isabella LaMadrid at the near post with a low left-footed drive to make it 1-0 only seven minutes into the first half. Minutes later, Chamblee was in on goal again after Cameron Pfau played a neat through ball to Kara Croone, but this time LaMadrid was able to tip the shot over the bar.

Chamblee’s offense went on to generate chance after chance in the first half and looked to increase their lead multiple times. Ten minutes into the half, a low shot from Croone ricocheted off the post, but was cleared by Lakeside’s Amelia Collins just before winger Gabby King could get on the end of it. Though Chamblee would continue to dominate the midfield, Lakeside was able to send a few hopeful balls over Chamblee’s defense, but each time, center backs Regan Drummond and Camie Maynor were there to deal with it. Fifteen minutes into the half, though, Lakeside’s Haley Davis was able to flick one of the balls back to forward Olivia Losken, who battled her way onto it and poked it into the net to tie the game at 1-1.

Chamblee didn’t look fazed, as they continued to push forward for another goal. Chamblee’s tenacity through the game impressed, and according to Entrekin, this is something they bring on the regular.  “We make sure to have a good intensity in every game,” said Entrekin. 

Just four minutes later, Cameron Pfau was able to release a promising shot over the bar off a great cross from Kara Croone on the right wing. LaMadrid was able to keep Chamblee at bay multiple times afterward, coming out to collect at crucial times, and then saving a shot from Gabby King off another splendid cross from Croone. Minutes later a hard-earned Chamblee corner from Cassidy Kuehne bounced around tantalizingly in the box near multiple Chamblee players, but LaMadrid would come up big again, grabbing it before any damage could be done. 

However, with only six minutes left in the first half, Cassidy Kuehne released an unstoppable shot from well outside the 18 that drove straight into the upper right corner of the goal to give Chamblee a 2-1 lead. Chamblee didn’t stop there, though, as just three minutes later, Alessandra Washington’s effort off another Chamblee corner kick hit the crossbar, but Ansley Harrison was there to head it in at the near post to make it 3-1 going into the half.

Lakeside had a promising start to the second half, and their pressure early on won them a corner, but nothing would come of it in the end. A few minutes later, a great run from Eleanor McLaren put some pressure on the Chamblee defense and resulted in a shot from Lakeside, but Chamblee looked composed as ever, and within the minute, Alessandra Washington would hit the post on a powerful low shot. Washington’s driving runs forward continued to cause difficulties for the Lakeside defense in the second half, and when not on the attack, Chamblee remained resolute in possession.

“Some of our team strengths are working as a team and connecting passes from the back line to the midfield to the front line and finishing our opportunities,” said defender Camie Maynor, and these strengths were clearly on display against Lakeside as Chamblee dominated possession and continued to generate opportunities.

With less than thirty minutes left in the half, another opportunity came after Harrison’s cross from the left wing ricocheted off Croone in the box and fell well for King, whose shot went just over the bar. Later, Harrison would trouble Lakeside again after her low shot went just left of the goal. All throughout the second half, Chamblee would showcase their incredible depth and variation in the attack, and this was demonstrated with 20 minutes left as center-back Camie Maynor made a run all the way from the back, weaving through Lakeside’s midfield, then got on the end of a give-and-go from Sara Bowzard to get behind the defense to release a laser of a shot, which went just wide into the side netting. Still, it showed just how dangerous Chamblee can be with all sorts of attacking play. As a central defender, Maynor continued to come up big on the defensive side of the ball throughout, coming up with a crucial block with 15 minutes left right in front of the goal as a Lakeside attacker looked to shoot. 

Chamblee quickly transitioned out of the back on the next play, and Croone’s explosive speed was on display once again as, after receiving the ball in front of the defense, she beat multiple defenders before releasing a beautiful left-footed shot that soared past LaMadrid to make it 4-1 Chamblee. Just two minutes later, Croone would come up big for Chamblee again, as after she got into a dangerous position in the box, she was fouled, and the ref quickly whistled for a Chamblee penalty, which Harrison then coolly drove into the lower right corner for her second of the game, and Chamblee’s fifth. 

Even as Chamblee’s win seemed sealed with only ten minutes left, a late cause for celebration came off of another Cassidy Kuehne corner, which was met this time by substitute Mia Yeager, who, having just come on, volleyed it beautifully into the roof of the net for her first goal of the season, making it 6-1.

A few minutes later, the scoreboard went out and caused widespread confusion about the amount of time left. Nevertheless, the game continued, and late on, Lakeside’s forward McLaren forced a corner after her strong shot was parried away by Chamblee goalkeeper Mary Entrekin. The resulting corner was headed out, but as McLaren chased the ball down for another opportunity, she was taken down from behind by Chamblee defender Sophia Shi, and the ref instantly called for the second penalty of the game. After a lengthy injury stoppage, Lakeside’s Maya Romanelli stepped up to the spot, but Entrekin was up to the challenge and saved the attempt, then the follow-up shot, keeping the score at 6-1 on what would turn out to be the last play of the game. 

“It felt great to save the penalty because it’s not something people expect you to save but if you do it’s amazing,” said Entrekin. “Even though it wasn’t a close game it felt great.”

Chamblee now has eight games through the rest of March to look forward to until the playoffs start, starting with Cross Keys at home on Wednesday, and with the form, they’re in, it’s not hard to imagine they could just bring another state championship home this year.