Sylacauga Soccer clinches 2026 Area Titles with wins over Beauregard

SYLACAUGA, Ala. - The Sylacauga Aggies girls and boys soccer programs closed out area play in emphatic fashion Thursday night, April 16, each turning in commanding wins over the Beauregard Hornets to cap seasons that ended with both programs claiming 2026 area titles.

The girls set the tone early and never let up. Sylacauga stormed out to a 5-0 halftime lead and carried that momentum into the second half, piling on five more goals to secure a mercy-rule finish with ten minutes to go in the second half. The Aggies showcased a balanced attack with seven different players finding the back of the net.

Natalie Perez led the way with a hat trick, while Bailey Malone added two goals. Alaina Kissic, Alyssa Pruitt, Mia Dennis, Mckenzie Cooper, and Caitlin Patterson each scored once to round out the attack.

Beyond the scoreboard, the night carried special meaning for a pair of Aggies. Senior Caitlin Patterson scored the first varsity goal of her career after capitalizing on a stolen goal kick attempt, a moment that quickly turned into a full-team celebration and an emotional moment on the field.

Later, seventh grader Mckenzie Cooper, recently called up to the varsity roster, scored the final goal of the match for her first varsity tally. She immediately sprinted to Bailey Malone, left her feet, and jumped into Malone's arms in one of the most memorable moments of the season.

In the boys matchup, Sylacauga controlled the tempo early and carried a 2-0 lead into halftime behind a goal from Casey Malone and a header from Jackson Carter. Beauregard cut into the deficit early in the second half to make it 2-1 and briefly shift momentum.

That push did not last. Jackson Carter responded with two more headed goals to complete his hat trick and seal a 4-1 win for the Aggies.

The victories capped strong area runs for both programs and highlighted standout seasons from each senior class.

The girls senior group, featuring K'La Tinsley, Mia Dennis, April Gardner, Maggie Forbus, La'zia Ware, Serenity Smith, Sha'niya Robinson, and Caitlin Patterson, finished area play with a 22-2 record across their careers and four straight area titles. Their only area losses over that span came against Marbury in 2023 and 2024. This season, they went 4-0 in area play, including three mercy-rule wins. Goalkeeper K'La Tinsley did not concede a goal in area competition.

On the boys side, the senior class of Cole Wright, Kaleb Fisher, Anderson Shaw, Joe Gaspar, Dylan Sandoval, Jackson Carter, Casey Malone, James Fleaman, and Jarrett Harris closed area play with a perfect 24-0 record and four consecutive area championships. This season's 4-0 area mark included wins at Valley and Beauregard, along with home victories over both opponents.

Both Sylacauga teams have enjoyed standout seasons overall, with each program capturing 2026 Talladega County Soccer Tournament championships. The girls enter postseason play at 12-5-2, while the boys sit at 13-3-3. Both teams will host their opening-round playoff matches.