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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CHELSEA – The Chelsea Hornets went into spring break with an emphatic note as their offense kicked into gear for one of their best performances of the season.

Chelsea defeated their cross-county rivals the Pelham Panthers 6-0 on Thursday, March 20 at Chelsea High School, securing its second-straight win in area play in the process.

After drawing 0-0 with Grissom on Tuesday, March 18, the Hornets looked for an offensive spark as they remained undefeated when scoring at least two goals but had just one win on the year when they scored just once.

Chelsea found frequent success with its possession-based attack as it kept the ball in the attacking half for the vast majority of the first half. This time though, the possession generated a litany of strong chances and some quality goals.

A big part of that victory was Gabi Guillen, who finished the night with three goals and two assists, contributing to five of the Hornets’ six goals on the night.

After a low shot from Maddie Hall was saved in the 17th minute, Guillen got a chance to help Chelsea open up a lead off a corner kick. However, rather than finding a teammate’s head or foot, she found the back of the net as her cross curled in for an Olimpico goal and the 1-0 lead.

Sydney Breedlove nearly helped double up the lead in the 28th minute when her cross led to a shot from Addie Harris. A minute later though, she took matters into her own hands when she suddenly teed off from 30 yards out and scored to take the 2-0 lead.

About five minutes later, Stella Dasilva made a charging run up the right wing and fired a near-side shot at the Pelham goal. She slotted the shot in between the keeper and the post to make the halftime lead 3-0.

After the Panthers had one of their lone attacks of the half in the final minutes before halftime, they got much more time with the ball in the early moments of the second half.

However, the Hornets continued to capitalize with their chances with the ball. Guillen added to the lead in the 55th minute after she scored from the top of the box for her team’s fourth goal of the game.

Chelsea didn’t have to wait long for its fifth goal to arrive. Three minutes later in the 58th minute, Natalie Peacock fired a shot from the left side of the box into the bottom left corner to put her team up 5-0.

The Hornets continued to cruise from there, but Guillen put an exclamation on her and her team’s performances. She scored her third goal of the game in the 78th minute to seal the 6-0 victory.

With the win, Chelsea improved to 7-3-5 overall and 2-1 in area play as it hits the halfway mark in the area slate. The Hornets are off for spring break and will be back in action on Tuesday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m. when they face the Prattville Lions at Chelsea High School.

Pelham dropped to 5-9-2 overall and 0-3 in area play. The Panthers will return to the pitch at home on Tuesday, April 1 at 5:30 p.m. when they face the Gardendale Rockets.