PHOTO GALLERY: Chiefs cruise on senior night

ROGERSVILLE — The Cherokee soccer team got a big win over Cumberland Gap on Thursday night, winning 5-0. It was the final regular season game for eight senior Chiefs, who were honored before the game.

Cherokee’s seniors are Peyton Albright, Ismail Muhammad Ali, Aiden Stidham, Gabriel Lugo, George Horlander, Ali Aglan, Alex McCoy and Joseph Schwinn. Photos from the senior night festivities will appear in a future edition of The Rogersville Review.

The Chiefs struck early with Gabriel Lugo scoring the only goal of the first half at the 38:40 mark. Joseph Schwinn scored for the Chiefs early in the second half. Aiden Stidham scored on a penalty kick at the 29:02 mark to make it 3-0.

George Horlander added two goals for Cherokee, and the Chiefs’ defense held the visitors without a point.

“We’ve worked hard and have gotten progressively better all season. The kids have done it. There’s not much I’ve done to get them where they are,” said head coach Charles Windham. “I hate to lose the seniors. They’re the first group I’ve worked with all the way through since COVID. All I can say is the kids did it. They worked hard every day, and they earned it.”

The Chiefs are the No. 4 seed in the District 2-AA tournament and were scheduled to host No. 5 Claiborne on Monday, May 6. However, the Bulldogs announced intentions to forfeit the game, which puts the Chiefs on the road to play at top-seeded Greeneville on Tuesday, May 7, in the district semifinals. No. 3 Volunteer travels to No. 2 Grainger on Tuesday in the other semifinal. Both semifinals start at 6 p.m.

The highest remaining seed will host the district championship game on Thursday, May 9, at 6 p.m.