The visiting Lady Tigers of Breckinridge County came to the Cougar Soccer Field on Thursday and went home with a 2-1, 11th District win over the Lady Cougars.
The Lady Tigers took an early 1-0 lead, in the 13th minute of play, when senior Autumn Rogers snuck a ball past Lady Cougar goal keeper, Laura Vincent.
The Lady Cougars missed a chance to tie things in the 19th minute, when junior Gillian Johnston was awarded a free kick about 20 yards out in front of the Breck goal. But Johnston’s shot sailed just wide.
In the 32nd minute, Johnston was camped in front of the Tiger goal and took a centering pass from senior Kandler Lindsey. Johnston could not get a foot to the ball and had a shot off her leg stopped by Tiger goalie Abby Shannon. The ball caromed back to Johnston, who tried to head the ball in, but Shannon stopped that as well. The half ended shortly afterward with Breck clinging to its 1-0 lead.
Three minutes into the second half, the Lady Cougars had a golden opportunity to score when Lindsey was awarded a free kick just outside the penalty area. She put a perfect pass onto the foot of sophomore Ellie Evans about 10 yards out of the left upright. Evans unleashed a hard shot from point-blank range, but Shannon was able to stop it and control it for a goal kick.
The Lady Tigers made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when a through-ball split two Grayson defenders and senior Aubrey Tabor got to the loose ball. Tabor took a couple of dribbles down the middle of the field and put up a shot that beat Vincent on her left side.
The Cougars made it 2-1 in the 60th minute when they were awarded a corner kick. Evans took the kick and placed a ball into the five-yard box which Shannon was able to deflect, but not control. The ball caromed right to Lindsey, who kneed it into the back of the net to cut the Lady Cougar deficit in half at 2-1.
Grayson County had 20 minutes left to try and get the equalizing score, but the Breck defense was up to the task.
With about two minutes left to play, the Lady Cougars had one last opportunity. Lindsey sent a through ball perfectly behind the Tiger defense which was picked up by a rushing Johnston. She took it on goal, but her shot sailed high over the goal and the Lady Cougars last, best chance went by the wayside.
With the loss, the Lady Cougars fall to 3-5 on the season. They will play three games this weekend in the Smoky Mountain Cup, in Gatlinburg, Tn.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
