Wildcats wrap up Southern Shootout with win

The Enterprise boys soccer team finished the Southern Shootout with its third consecutive shutout after a 2-0 victory against McGill-Toolen in its final match of the tournament.

"That's a very good end to the tournament for us after losing the first game," EHS boys soccer coach Bruce Ladner said. "I was very proud of the guys. (They played) four games in about 36 hours. They're tired. They're banged up. They're beat up, but they may have played their best game of the tournament here in this last game. I am really proud of them."

Throughout the tournament, Ladner was pleased to see improvement each match.

"That's the ultimate goal," he said. "You want to take the team you've got, and wherever level you start out at you want to improve. That's what these guys did. They did not start off at a great level the first game. It was not our best performance, but they didn't sulk. They didn't cry about it. They went to work, they improved on it and they got some really good results this weekend."

Sebastian Guerrero scored the Wildcats' first goal in the 13th minute after an assist from Sam Mazariegos.

"We had some goals scored by some young guys," Ladner said. "If I'm not mistaken, that's two freshmen."

Enterprise had a 1-0 lead at the half.

The Wildcats maintained the advantage until Rasheed Bolaji scored after a Thomas Ellis assist to give EHS its final 2-0 margin.

"If I'm not mistaken, that's two 10th graders," Ladner said. "When you're getting that kind of production out of your ninth and 10th graders at the varsity level in the fourth game of a tournament over the weekend, you've got to be pretty proud."

Adrian Weiss and Zachary Sheahan combined for a clean sheet for the Wildcats. Sheahan had one save.

"The last three games (of the tournament) we didn't give up a goal so that's a testament to the defense," Ladner said. "All three of those last three games we controlled the ball, we controlled the possession and I thought we played some good soccer."

The good soccer EHS played at the tournament is something Ladner is counting on to give the Cats confidence as they head into the rest of their schedule.

"They know they can play with anybody in the state, because some of the best teams around were here," he said. "It does not get easier. Next week, we have Vestavia and Mountain Brook."

Enterprise will return to the pitch Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. on the road against Vestavia Hills.

"Nothing is going to get easier for this group," Ladner said. "We've got a very challenging schedule. They know they can step up and handle it now."