Former Dalton High School standout Damian Rodriguez has had quite the year.
The 18-year-old scored his first professional goal to help the Chattanooga Football Club make its final home match of the year a 1-0 victory over the Michigan Stars FC on a chilly Saturday night at Finley Stadium.
In the 29th minute, Juan Hernandez found Markus Naglestad, who made a run from the right sideline and kicked back to Rodriguez, who stopped at the top right of the 18-yard box. He then skipped a shot into the left half of the net.
Rodriguez was lifted into the air by the 31-year old Hernandez as the club's most seasoned player celebrated with the budding talent who captained his high school national powerhouse to a 20-0-2 record and the program's sixth GHSA state title in May.
CFC improved to 6-9-2 in the National Independent Soccer Association fall schedule, which it will close next Saturday against Stumptown AC (4-4-8) in Matthews, North Carolina.
The Stars dropped to 5-6-6 with the loss in Chattanooga.
Compiled by Patrick MacCoon. Contact him at pmaccoon@timesfreepress.com and follow him on Twitter @PMacCoon.