The Gloucester High School varsity girls’ soccer team opened its 2017 schedule with a 4-1 win at Denbigh on Tuesday.

The Dukes optimized their ability to spread the ball wide to the outside midfielders and defenders to get effective crosses to the forwards in the center. All four goals came off crosses from outside players.

Gloucester took an early 1-0 lead when outside midfielder Marranda Hansford dribbled past two Denbigh defenders and crossed the ball to Brooke Cheatham. Cheatham was ready in the center and chested the ball in the goal. 

Denbigh was awarded a free kick outside the 18 and scored to tie the match, 1-1. The tie lasted the remainder of the first half. The Dukes put the pressure on in the second half and scored three more goals. Right outside defender Christina Parnell delivered a cross to Haley Hamilton who was able to slot the ball past the keeper to make it 2-1.

After beating multiple defenders, Cheatham provided two assists from out wide to the...