A busy slate of early season matches for the Camden High girls’ soccer team continued this week with the Lady Bulldogs routing Region 4-AAA foe Chester, 13-0, on Tuesday before blanking Andrew Jackson the following night, 4-0.

In the 13-0 blitzing of and outmanned Chester squad, Camden (2-0 in 4AAA) jumped out to a 5-0 lead after the first half of a game in which Chloe Grein’s hat trick paced the Lady Bulldogs who received a pair of second goals from both Leila Long and Haleigh Scott.

“Chester had 11 players with no subs, which is a challenge,” said Lady Bulldogs head coach Pam Chickering. “Many of our girls scored for us, which was fun. We played the entire team which, again, is always great to do to give them experience as well rest the starters having our big game on Friday at Indian Land. 

“The girls have played a lot of games in a short time which can be mentally and physically draining, and that is another reason it is great to play the reserves. Chester had some quality players on their team and they had a few chances but again our defense was stingy and we were able hold them out of the net.”

Mary Caston Morgan and Anna Trapp shared duties in goal to get credit for the combined shutout.

Grein scored twice in the first half while Pamela Montes Mencia, Kristen Randolph and Kate Jones also added tallies. Grein struck for her third goal to start the second half scoring which included goals off the feet of Dayton Jeffcoat, Misha Messinides, Long (2) Scott (2) and Morgan.

The Camden junior varsity won the opener, 10-0 over Chester.

Against AJ, Grein did all her scoring in the opening half while Jones added the fourth Lady Bulldog goal on a cold and wet night in Kershaw.

All three Grein goals came as the result of her breaking through the defense and getting 1 on 1 with the keeper. Annie Navarro, Long and Jones had the assists on each of the goals. 

“I think the girls were tired,” Chickering said of her team’s busy slate of matches. “We have played so many games and have not had a real break from playing. We really have not had a structured practice for the past either weeks, either.

“They know what is expected of them when they get on the pitch and they perform. They dig deep and show a lot of heart and keep winning. “Many teams could not keep fighting and going through this grind, and putting forth the effort these girls do each day. I am very proud of their performances as each game we are developing better skills and tactics for the next game.”

Jones finished off the scoring in the second half with a direct kick in the upper corner of the goal which was out of the reach of the AJ keeper. 

“It was a sweet goal by Kate, something she said she was hoping to do,” Chickering said. “AJ played hard and kept attacking, never quitting in the game. I just wanted to preserve the shutout again, which Mary Caston came up big on a couple of their opportunities and secured it.”