By Eric Lusk
Sports Editor
elusk@elkintribune.com

BOONVILLE — Forbush put the finishing touches on its third-straight conference championship in girls soccer on Thursday night, defeating Starmount 6-0 on the road.

Leticia Patino and Lindsey Lineberry each scored twice in the first 20 minutes. Katelynd Caudle and Jessica Baity had the other goals. Lineberry also had two assists, as did Baity. Jennifer Jones assisted on another score.

The Falcons led 5-0 at the half and put in its final net 63 minutes into the match.

Forbush improved to 17-3-1 overall with the triumph and finish a perfect 12-0 for the second straight year in the Mountain Valley 2A Conference. The Falcons were 11-0-1 in 2007. Their last loss came to Wilkes Central in 2006. That season, the Falcons were 10-2-0.

All told, over the past four years of the MVAC, coach Kenan James’ teams have compiled a 45-2-1 conference record.

“The girls have worked very hard and take pride in repeating as champions,” James said. “When they take the field it’s their goal to win but also to improve from the last performance and play their best.”

A number of players on the squad have been together for several years, playing for what is now the YSA Scream, a U-17 classic team. That experience translated into a run to the 2A state finals last spring during the high school season and could mean another deep playoff charge over the next few weeks.

“These girls have been together since fourth or fifth grade, so a lot of credit needs to go to their parents who have shuttled them to practice, games and all over the state for tournaments,” James said. “It’s a very special group and they do very special things as a team.”

Forbush’s reward for winning the MVAC is a bye from the first round of the 2A state tournament. The Falcons await the winner of Wednesday night’s South Iredell-Smoky Mountain game (which finished after press time for this week’s Ripple).

Forbush will host the second-round matchup on Saturday. The start time had not been determined as of press time. The Falcons will stay at home as long as they keep winning in the playoffs.

Starmount ended its season at 5-14-1. The Rams were outshot 24-3 in the Forbush game. Allison Walker and Sonnie Williams did combine for 16 saves for Starmount. Kayla Adams had three saves for Forbush.

This was the Rams’ fourth year of offering girls varsity soccer. The team bids farewell to four dedicated seniors who have been with the program all four years — defender Kayla Campbell, midfielder/sweeper Caitlin Norman, forward/midfielder Janet Hernandez and midfielder/defender Jennifer Najera. All four were captains this season.

“We are really close this year,” Kayla Campbell said. “I love going out and spending time with my teammates even when we are not playing on the field. I have never had that experience before. It is wonderful. They are like my family.”

Starmount has a promising group of young players ready to take the reins next spring. The Rams were solid on the junior varsity circuit this spring, posting an 11-1-2 record. That included a 5-0 win against Forbush early in the season and a 2-1 triumph last Thursday.