The sun had set and the winner knew Wednesday they would be back to face UHA when Hopkinsville and Fort Campbell kicked-off to begin District 8 semifinal number two. It was soccer under the lights, and man did it live up to the brightness of them.
Let’s begin by outlining the weird and logistically sub-par conditions of the site technically for both games but it stood out more in this one).
The game was played on the football field at Fort Campbell meaning their were countless numbers and lines everywhere completely irrelevant to a soccer game, but also they had had to paint temporary boundary lines because a soccer field is wider and requires other boxes and boundary markers.
That alone would have been distracting enough, but then you consider the entire field is surrounded by a pro-level track and field set-up, balls were getting well out of bounds and being chased down regularly and worst of all their was little to no help with the balls as they flew regularly all over the place and out of the field of play.
Let me be clear, it hurt everyone in terms of strategy and timing, it was not a home field advantage for the Lady Falcons in the least. In fact the longest delay as they attempted to find a ball and a ball boy was on an throw in for Fort Campbell.
It was incredibly frustrating for both sides and all four teams. We will see if it is something they resolve for the Boys contests on Tuesday.
Despite all that, as a stated above, this game was bright and lived up to its hype.
Hoptown struck first after the Lady Falcon goalie took a hard shot off the chest and was just barely unable to recover the rebound in time before it was rocketed into the net by Taryn Underwood, to give the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead.
In true Jeff Addison fashion after the goal Hopkinsville really put pressure defensively on the Lady Falcons who had a really rotten first half unable to move the ball and constantly finding themselves out of position.
Give the Lady Tigers the credit for that they really had Ft. Campbell all out of sorts.
The second half was much more back and forth and competitive as Fort Campbell found a tough shot about ten minutes in to even it up at one a piece and force Hoptown to play a more balanced game.
With that forced balance came a lot more set kicks, corner kicks, and just overall more spacing and better soccer.
Both teams, however, were unable to take advantage of their opportunities and found themselves heading to OT.
Taylor Joachim was visibly distraught blaming herself for the situation but her teammates were quick to pick her up and she deserved it considering the ample chances this game had to go one way or the other.
It is also worth noting at this point that Morgan Woosely had not been one hundred percent most of the game and clearly was affected by a nagging issue. Again though, those same teammates pushed her and to her credit you would have had to physically drag her off the field before she would not play.
The game now entered its first overtime under golden goal rules. Sudden death a more common term meaning the next score would win.
These two teams who had already played their hearts out went for another five minutes, no score.
So we do it again. Same thing, five more minutes, sudden death, and no score.
Now comes the most exciting thing in sports, Penalty shots.
Five shooters and each goalie, win by two effectively.
The Lady Tigers win the toss and chose to kick second, that way they know each time what they need to do and the pressure is always more on the kick than the save.
After being distraught, and being so visibly worried about the PK’s, Joachim did the best thing you can do; she handed her team an advantage by stopping the first Ft. Campbell attempt.
That gave Hoptown the chance to put immense pressure on the Lady Falcons, especially after the Lady Tigers sent their first shot attempt screaming into the back of the net. GOAL! Kendall Mayes, for her first ever goal in high school varsity competition.
Talk about a great time to come up with it!
Also what trust, by Head Coach Jeff Addison to have his first kicker be a young lady with a lot of talent, but had yet to see one go in, confidence booster for coach and player for sure!
The back and forth continued as subsequently Ft. Campbell scored, then Morgan Woosely, then the Lady Falcons again, next Laney Wilson, and finally Ft. Campbell doinked on off the football upright above the goal; too strong.
Now, after her last three teammates had scored, and with the game on the line, up to kick stepped senior Taryn Underwood. It went like this…
The celebration ensued and for one night the losses and mistakes meant nothing, the win was just that, a win. A chance to advance and avenge a loss from earlier in the year at UHA on Wednesday.
That game will kick-off around 6 pm at Fort Campbell between the Lady Blazers and thee Lady Tigers. Be there!