The varsity girls soccer team faced the Bowdon Red Devils on Thursday, March 1 in their first region game of the year.

The first half started quickly, with freshman Jayden Boswell scoring a goal off of a fluke goal kick two minutes in.

Boswell scored another goal after beating two defenders to the ball, putting the Tigers up 2-0 three minutes into the game.

“They brought us the struggle of bringing the ball down and passing it around and not just hitting it. This game taught me that passing the ball around and looking up will make a tremendous change in our game and will make it a lot easier,” Boswell said.

Senior Alex Gardner scored a banger from 20 yards out, adding a point to the lead at 14’.

Another goal by senior Hillary Tunnel was scored off of a rebound shortly after, putting Darlington up 4-0 at the 16’ mark.

Bowden used their size to help get the ball, and that was one of the challenges during receiving the ball or dribbling the ball.

“I am so proud of my team as I have seen them grow immensely in their communication and skill. This game helped me just be more confident in playing offense as at the beginning I was timid since I am so used to playing a more defensive position. I look to learn to be comfortable with the ball and help my team communicate in the offense and defense connections as I am in the center of it all,” junior Ashley Hankinson said.

Boswell added another goal, rounding out the first half with a hat trick for herself, and senior Julia Holmes added her own back-to-back goals at 36’ and 39’.

The Tigers led 7-0 at halftime, resulting in a shortened 20 minute second half.

Freshman Tanya Maples kept the offense strong, scoring another goal less than a minute into the beginning of the second half.

Freshman Emma Good added another, putting back a rebound off of the keeper.

Another rebound goal by junior Morgan Ivester upped Darlington’s lead to 10-0 four minutes into the second half. This implemented the GHSA mercy rule, and the game finished early with the Tigers earning their first region win to begin the regular season.

“Because the team was less experienced we were able to compete well; however, we started to play down to their level resulting in a challenge to keep our intensity level high,” senior Julia Holmes said. “Although the mercy rule is a good start to region play, this game was a morale booster for our team, but we in order to do well in the games to come we need to keep our focus and continue to practice hard everyday.”