Chattanooga's Katy Morris takes the ball downfield during the Chattanooga Football Club versus Alabama Football Club game at Finley Stadium on Friday.Brittney Reid is not one normally to score goals. The Chattanooga Football Club defender, who plays for Kennesaw State University, had one goal during her freshman season for the Lady Owls.
She now has one for the CFC women as well.
The Chattanooga women put together their most complete performance at home of the season Friday, dispatching the Alabama FC 3-0 at Finley Stadium. CFC (3-3) has won three of its last four matches after an 0-2 start.
Next is a road match Sunday against the Georgia Revolution.
"I got chills," Reid said about her score. "I was in shock; I didn't know what to do."
Former Chattanooga Christian standout Anna Hoffman and former Notre Dame star Jaimee Cooper also scored, while the defense posted its second consecutive shutout.
"I think we really stayed strong today on defense, and we finished chances offensively, which was awesome, so it was great to win," Reid said. "I think going forward we have a great opportunity to do well. We just obviously need to win and keep playing hard."
CFC coach Patrick Winecoff said his team actually played better in spots a week ago in a 1-0 loss to the same Alabama side.
"We did really well tonight, but last week was our best match from top to bottom and from front to back," Winecoff said. "Our backs and goalkeeper did a good job; they didn't have any dangerous opportunities or shots, and that's the back line. Our center mids won balls in the air, and we finally got some opportunities to score.
"We outworked them."
The pressure came early and often Friday for the hosts. In the 14th minute, they had a near goal when rising Baylor School junior Chloe Maize crossed a ball into Kristina Heredia, whose header was nearly tapped in by Nicki Gears. CFC had a similar result to a play a few minutes later.
Hoffman's goal in the 31st minute started the scoring, and then Reid netted a free kick in the 76th minute and Cooper had a nice header of a Kelly Downs cross in the 88th minute.
"How you handle back-to-backs and two matches in three days will determine how the conference will sort out," Winecoff said. "Sunday is the next question mark for us: Can we hop on a bus and travel, step out, play a match and win a game?
"I think everything is lining up for us in how we're playing and training, so I'm excited."
CFC men win, too
The Chattanooga Football Club men's team improved to 3-1-1 in its conference Friday with a 2-0 road victory over Nashville FC. Luke Winter and Leo De Smedt had the goals for CFC (4-2-1 overall), but Winter -- the team's leading scorer -- left the game late in the first half with a leg injury and is listed as day-to-day.
Greg Hartley earned the shutout in goal. The CFC men, who took over first place in the National Premier Soccer League's Southeast Division with Friday's win, host the Georgia Revolution tonight at 7:30 at Finley Stadium.
Contact Gene Henley at ghenley@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6311. Follow him at twitter.com/genehenleytfp.