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The GRC Lady Cardinals hit the road to compete in an out-of-state tournament over the weekend and crushed the competition.

The Lady Cards (7-2-1) played a trio of matches in the Smoky Mountain Cup in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Coach Matthew Abner’s team battled to a draw 2-2 draw with Silverdale Academy (TN) on Friday. Senior forward Ciana Araya and sophomore forward Reese Patrick netted for GRC. Junior midfielder Madison Stapleton contributed an assist.

GRC got back in the win column on Saturday by defeating Karns (TN) 4-0. Three different Lady Cards scored: Araya scored twice, and sophomore midfielder Laney Frazier and junior defender Makili Tabor had one apiece. Araya also had two assists, and Stapleton had one.

The Lady Cards closed their weekend in the Smokey Mountains by demolishing White House-Heritage (TN) 5-0. Stapleton fired in a hat-trick to lead the GRC attack. Sophomore midfielder Ella Vanhooser and senior defender Emma Taylor also kicked in a goal apiece. Araya and Vanhooser also each had one assist.

GRC traveled to northern Kentucky last Monday to take on Bishop Brossart (3-2-1) and picked up a 1-0 win. Araya’s goal proved to be the difference maker.

Araya has torched the back of the net this season and leads the team with eight goals and six assists. Patrick is close behind in the goal tally with six. Vanhooser is second on the team in assists with five.

The Lady Cards will hit the road again later this week. They take on the Connor Lady Jaguars (7-3-1) on the road Wednesday and the Lady Jaguars of North Laurel (2-0) at home on Thursday.