Andalusia picked up a 5-1 win over Carroll-Ozark on a milestone night on Thursday at Bulldogs Stadium.

AHS built a healthy 4-0 lead in the first half, and added another goal in the second to seal the win.

The Bulldogs were playing with 10 players on the field in the first half, and AHS coach Tim Ramsden said he thought they played well despite having a man down.

Another positive for AHS came when seniors Jennifer and Jasmine Botta, along with freshman Shelbee Mathews, came off the bench to see some action in the second half. This marked the first time girls recorded minutes in a varsity game.

With this win, Andalusia improves to 6-0 overall. The Bulldogs will be back in action on Thursday in Dothan for an area game against Providence Christian.

Andalusia’s first goal came at 10-minute minute mark in the first half when Hiten Patel received a pass from Hiren Patel. Hiten then skipped the ball past the goalkeeper, and beat the last Eagle defender for the score.

Midfielder Zack Parker’s passing attack all night paced the Bulldogs.

Hiren split the Carroll defense on Andalusia’s next trip down the pitch, and laced the ball into the goal for a 2-0 lead.

Continuing the early scoring by Andalusia, Ashton Evans floated a crossing pass directly across the Ozark goal mouth to a leaping Trey Ossenfort who promptly headed the ball into goal.

After being sent forward to attack, Andalusia’s Kevin Rooks was sent off the pitch at the 38th minute after a second yellow card violation. Ramsden was forced to change tactics and the Bulldogs played with a man down for the rest of the game.

AHS quickly responded to what the crowd felt was a poor call ejecting Rooks one minute later, when Hiren scored on an awarded penalty kick.

At the half, the Bulldogs gave signed team balls to ACS Superintendent Ted Watson, and Ramsden’s father, Keith.

Carroll’s goalie Brandon Buckman kept Ozark in the game with a big save off a free kick attempt by Hiren early in the second half.

At the 50th minute, Jennifer Botta provided an Andalusia soccer milestone as she was substituted into the game to be the Bulldogs’ first female player on the field in a varsity game. Botta immediately went to work in defense, frustrating the Ozark attack on the left wing.

Zack Biggs of Ozark scored a few minutes later on a slow roller that leaked past a furious mob of Andalusia and Ozark players in front of the Bulldog goal to make the game a 4-1 contest.

Botta continued to break up Ozark attacks on the left wing and was soon joined by substitutes Shelbee Mathews and Jasmine Botta, as AHS continued to play a man down the entire second half.

Chris Smith saved a powerful strike off the foot of Carroll’s Simon Zierk at the 60th minute to keep Ozark’s tally at one. Smith then teamed up with Parker to stop another hard challenge on goal by Carroll late in the game.

*Additional reporting was provided by Allen Woodard.