By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

A short-handed Callaway girls’ soccer team had its hands full with visiting Brookstone on Tuesday.

Callaway, which was missing some injured players including leading scorer Kelly Carlisle, fell to Brookstone 9-0.

It wasn’t the outcome Callaway (1-2) was hoping for, but the outlook for the season appears bright.

Most of the players who helped the Lady Cavaliers win the first state-tournament game in the history of the program have returned, including a talented group of seniors who have helped elevate the program.

“Last season we started off this way, too,” Callaway head coach Shonna Yawn said. “I think we took four losses including our scrimmage and we had a tie, and then we started winning. This isn’t what we wanted. We hoped to start the way we ended, but that’s not what’s going on. We’ve had a few minor setbacks and we’ll regroup, and put the pieces to the puzzle together and we’ll keep going.”

Tuesday’s game was scoreless until Brookstone scored a goal 22 minutes into the game.

Brookstone added two more first-half goals to take a 3-0 lead, and it poured it on in the second half.

The injuries hurt Callaway.

Among the missing players was Carlisle, who scored five goals in last week’s win over Troup.

“We have some injuries, and that doesn’t help,” Yawn said. “That set us back a little bit. By next week, we’ll be back on track.”

In the boys’ game, Callaway built a 3-1 lead early in the second half, but Brookstone fought back to win 4-3.

Callaway took the lead 16 minutes into the game when Tavian Smiley scored on a header off a free kick from Noah Stephens.

Ten minutes later, Brookstone tied it at 1-1, but Callaway reclaimed the lead on an Ian Bryan goal on an assist from Wes Brooks shortly before the end of the half.

Moments into the second half, Brooks scored on an assist from Bryan, and Callaway led 3-1.

Back came Brookstone, which scored three goals in an 11-minute stretch to seize the lead, and Callaway was unable to answer.

Callaway played more than 50 minutes short-handed after one of its players received a red card in the first half. Despite that, Callaway appeared to be in control before Brookstone rallied.

“The guys battled,” Callaway head coach Mike Petite said. “We had to move some positions, we had to reorganize stuff. We’ve got some guys who have been hurt, we’ve got some guys who have been sick. They’re fighting hard.”

While it was a tough loss, Callaway is just getting the season started, so there is a long way to go.

“This is game three,” Petite said. “It’s game three of an 18-game regular season. It doesn’t have to be perfect right now. We’re figuring it all out. I think they’re figuring some things out about themselves. We’ll get there.”

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