A young but talented varsity Lady Tiger soccer team took to the pitch last week against visiting Rabun County.

Coach Jed Lacey's team dominated the Feb. 15 game and took a 9-0 win over the Lady Wildcats from Tiger.

The Lady Tigers are currently ranked No. 6 in Class AAA and scored three times in the first half on goals by freshmen Emily Queen and Tina Libao and sophomore Taylor Bennett.

It was the first goals of their high school careers for both Queen and Libao.

Dawson County continued to pour on the offense in the second half. The team added six more goals.

Libao and sophomore McKay Shively scored five of the goals in the second half. Both Shively and Libao ended the game with a hat-trick, three goals each.

Bennett picked up her second goal in the second half to close out the scoring.

All nine goals were scored by freshmen or sophomores.

Goalkeeper Emily Stapler picked up her first career shutout. Stapler is also a sophomore.

"What a way to open the regular season," said Lacey. "This is a young team with six freshmen and eight sophomores."

The Lady Tigers are in a rebuilding year after a Sweet Sixteen state playoff run last season. Gone are 13 players off last year's roster.

"These girls are coming together really fast. Everyone is learning their place on this team and what their role is. I thought our defense was stellar tonight. We take so much pride in our defense and the girls that play back there play as one unit," Lacey said.

Playing on defense for Dawson County are: Anna Hawkins, Sara Bywaletz, Summer Armstrong, Sam Kenny and Riley Cox. Hawkins is the only returning starter.

Dawson County will play at 5:30 p.m. Friday in Toccoa against Stephens County.