Photo - Ashlyn Brown
University Heights knew Murray would once again be the only thing standing between them and a trip to Frankfort for the All-A Classic State Tournament. For the ninth time in a decade, the Lady Tigers denied the Lady Blazers the trip there.
Murray beat UHA 6-5 Monday in the All-A sectional matchup that was decided by a penalty kick round.
UHA started fast, scoring twice in the first nine minutes to take an early 2-0 lead. Murray responded and led 5-3 until the Blazers scored twice in the final six minutes to force the shootout round. Murray outscored UHA 2-1 on penalty kicks for the win.
Grace Pape smacked home a 30-footer six minutes in to give the Lady Blazers the early lead. Just three minutes later, Alex Juckett poked home a missed shot, and UHA found themselves up 2-0.
UHA continued to be the aggressor in the half, outshooting Murray 12-7. However, the Murray defense began to double-team Lilly Strader, UHA’s leading scorer, as soon as she stepped on the field.
After Murray’s Parker Greer was tripped in the box in the 11th minute, she banged home the penalty kick to cut the UHA lead in half at 2-1.
Abby Elmore tied the game for Murray in the 16th minute when miscommunication by the Lady Blazers in front of the goal allowed her knock home the equalizer.
While UHA missed scoring on a couple of breakaways, Murray made theirs count as Greer and Hollis Bourque each scored to give the Lady Tigers a 4-2 lead at the break.
Kate Cansler headed home a Pape kick nine minutes into the second half to trim the Murray lead to 4-3. UHA had another good look a few minutes later but saw their second shot of the game hit the crossbar and carom away.
Greer nailed a shot from the corner of the box to complete her hat trick and seemingly put the game away with a 5-3 lead with 16 minutes left.
After a game full of bad breaks, UHA caught one when a crossing pass when off a Murray defender and found the net for an own goal with five minutes left. Less than a minute later, Strader got open on a breakaway and buried the shot to tie the game.
Neither team could score in the final five minutes which sent the contest to a penalty kick round.
UHA shot first with Strader’s shot knocked away by Murray goalie Kennedy Keller. Angela Gierhart responded for Murray for a 1-0 lead in the round.
Cansler shot second and sailed her attempt. Murray’s Hannah Lawson hit the left post with her shot and it bounced into the back of the net for a 2-0 Murray lead.
Pape would score UHA’s only goal of the penalty kick round as neither team would score again.
Murray (5-6) will advance to the All-A State Tournament later this month in Frankfort.
UHA dropped to 5-2 and was denied their first state tourney trip since 2013. The Lady Blazers have won ten straight All-A region titles but have lost to Murray in the sectional round nine times.
The Lady Blazers will have to shake off the loss quickly as they host Hopkinsville in an Eighth District contest Tuesday at Givens Field.
