The Trigg County boys’ soccer team spent the weekend at the Muhlenberg State Farm Classic, finishing with a 1-2 record. Trigg began with a 3-2 loss on a late goal to Webster County (7-3-1) Friday night, but beat tournament hosts Muhlenberg County 2-1 Saturday morning, before losing 3-2 on another late goal, courtesy of the 6th Region’s Bullitt East Chargers (8-4).
The Wildcats (4-6) were sluggish in the morning match against Muhlenberg County, but took the upper hand when freshman Will Jolly headed home off sophomore Cristian Llarena’s corner kick midway through the first half. Trigg would hold the lead until the dying seconds of the half, giving up a goal from close range after a miscommunication in the defense.
The Wildcats remained stuck in neutral in the second half, creating very little and having some shaky moments in defense. However, Jolly would seal it, stepping up to bury a penalty kick after a handball in the box, and the Wildcats would see the game out for a 2-1 win.
Trigg County, ranked 5th in the YourSportsEdge.com 2nd Region rankings, faced off against Bullitt East in the evening session, losing 3-2 on a late goal for the second time in 24 hours. After a dismal first half in which the Wildcats gave up two goals, including one on a penalty kick awarded for a handball in the box, a position change would spark the Wildcat attack. Senior Carter Boyd moved from his normal center defender position up to forward, and immediately changed the game. Boyd would cut the Charger lead in half, breaking free off an assist from sophomore midfielder Cristian Llarena and finishing to the top left corner. The Wildcats continued to put pressure on the Chargers, and sophomore forward Elijah Gaines ran past the East defense to score unassisted and knot the match at 2-2.
Both teams would have chances over the last 15 minutes, and once again the Wildcats would be cruelly beaten on a late goal, lobbed over substitute goalkeeper, freshman Ben Futrell. Futrell was filling in for sophomore goalkeeper Matthew Smith, who was injured in the second half and could not return. Senior midfielder Javier Llarena was also lost to injury, the severity of which is yet to be determined.
Trigg now have a few days off before they welcome the Mayfield Cardinals (2-4-1) to the Recreation Complex on September 14th.
