Making a little 3rd Region Tournament history, the Grayson County Cougar soccer team beat Muhlenberg County 2-0 in the opening round of the tournament being played at Apollo High School, in Owensboro.
The game marked the first time ever that the Cougar men had won a game at the regional level. It was also the third time this season that the Cougars (11-7) have beaten the Mustangs (7-15).
For their efforts, the Cougars will now face Daviess County in the second round at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. The Panthers, (18-2-1), are five-time defending 3rd Region Champions who last year lost to St. Xavier in the state final, but two years ago won it all in Lexington, 2-1 over Covington Catholic on penalty kicks.
Against Muhlenberg, the Cougars started by controlling the action in the Mustang end of the field in the opening minutes. That pressure paid off with a goal in the eighth minute of play. Junior Wyatt Schultz sent a crossing pass parallel to the Mustang goal to sophomore Matthew Haycraft, who put a shot on goal.
From a distance, it appeared Haycraft’s shot went wide of the goal, but seconds later, the official on the side ruled the ball had crossed the goal line, giving the Cougars an early 1-0 lead as the small, but hearty band of Cougar followers bundled up on the sidelines in the 40-degree cold went wild.
The Cougars had one other chance in the 16th minute when Schultz controlled a loose ball just out from the Mustang goal, but he got under his shot and sent the ball high and wide of the goal.
As time wore on, the Mustangs began getting the upper hand, controlling the ball in the Cougar end the majority of the time. But with just seconds remaining, the Cougars were able to turn things around. Haycraft made a long run down the left side and was fouled just outside the penalty area about 20 yards outside the left upright. With the clock running down inside 10 seconds, Haycraft sent his free kick to the back post. The ball bounced once before senior Chase Minton was able to get his foot to it and send it into the net with two seconds left on the clock.
The second half turned into a defensive struggle, with neither team getting a goal. The Mustangs had the closest opportunity when in the 73rd minute of play junior Zack Mimms ripped a ball at the Cougar goal from about 25 yards out. The humpbacked liner was ticketed for the top of the Cougar goal, but keeper Brady Whobrey was able to leap up and get a hand on the shot to deflect it over the top of the goal to maintain his shutout.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
