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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CHELSEA – The Chelsea Hornets made it two wins for the opening week of the season as they cruised past the Gadsden City Titans in a Saturday matinee.

Chelsea defeated Gadsden City 5-1 on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Chelsea High School to improve to 2-0 on the young season.

The Hornets and Titans battled out for a scoreless opening 20 minutes before the hosts got a golden opportunity to go up.

As Gadsden City worked to collect the ball back in its own defensive third, Max Wever poked the ball out to a running Parker Dean, who slotted it past the diving keeper in the bottom left corner to take a 1-0 lead.

The Hornets got a pair of big chances before the break, and both of which were converted for goals. First, Dean sent Elijah Huggins’ strong effort towards Wever, and the senior striker finished it off to increase the lead to 2-0.

Just two minutes later, Wever completed his brace after Dean sent an assist his way by way of a Shon McKinney effort, sending Chelsea to the break with a 3-0 lead.

Shortly into the second half, the Hornets got a chance from the spot and sent Cooper Baumbaugh to take the penalty. Baumbaugh chose to roll the ball on the ground to the bottom left corner, getting past the keeper who dove to cover the middle of the goal.

Baumbaugh factored into another goal before the end of the match. He sent a long ball into the box, and Dean volleyed it in midair to get it over the keeper and into the net for a goal to increase the lead to 5-0.

Gadsden City got on the scoreboard after that thanks to a conceded penalty and converted kick from the spot, but the Hornets still walked away with the 5-1 victory.

Dean and Wever each finished the match with two goals and an assist while Baumbaugh earned a goal and an assist.

Chelsea will take its undefeated record into the Lakeshore Shootout Platinum Division. The Hornets will open the tournament with a matchup against the team that knocked them out of the Class 7A playoffs last year, the Oak Mountain Eagles, on Thursday, Feb. 13 at Oak Mountain High School.

Chelsea will then finish the weekend with a pair of games at the Eagle Sports Complex in Calera, first against the Huntsville Panthers on Friday, Feb. 14 at 4 p.m. and then against the Grissom Tigers on Saturday, Feb. 15 at 12:30 p.m. to round out the three-game swing against top-10 7A teams.