After playing a solid first half in Wednesday’s 11th District soccer final, played at Meade County, the Lady Cougars gave up seven second-half goals in the Lady Waves’ 9-1 victory, making the Lady Cougars the 11th District runners-up.
Meade County senior Braydin Board opened the scoring in the eighth minute with a goal, which was followed up by another Meade goal in the 13th minute by sophomore Alyssa Hearn for a quick 2-0 lead.
That would turn out to be all of the Meade scoring in the first half as the Lady Cougar defense played superbly.
Junior Gillian Johnston made it 2-1 in the 15th minute with a beautiful assist from goal keeper Laura Vincent. The Lady Cougars seemed to have a strategy on goal kicks that had Vincent booming long kicks to Johnston in hopes she could break away for a goal.
In the 15th minute that strategy worked to perfection as Johnston ran on to a Vincent kick behind the Lady Wave defense. The ball was in that area where the Lady Wave goalie had to come out of her net to try and get to the ball. But Johnston beat keeper Elizabeth Burns to the ball and chipped it over her head and into the net to make it 2-1, which is how the first half ended.
But it was all Meade County in the second half. Board added two more goals for a hat-trick, and Hearn scored a second goal. Seniors Amanda Thornsberry and Maria Hines added single goals, as did junior McKenzie Wilson and sophomore Cyia Robertson as the Lady Waves won going away.
As the 11th District runner-up, the Lady Cougars will face a district champion in the 3rd Region Tournament, to be played next week at Daviess County.
Following the game, senior Kandler Lindsey, sophomore Ellie Evans, and freshman Elizabeth Lindsey were named to the All-Tournament Team.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
