The Caldwell County Lady Tiger soccer team has had a strong season so far, but Caldwell’s girls suffered a disappointing loss Monday night at Butler Stadium in Princeton.
Hopkins County Central’s Priya Holmes scored on a perfectly-placed shot in the lower corner from about 25 yards out as the Lady Storm picked up a 2-1 victory in 7th District soccer action. The goal came with just 34 seconds left in the contest.
It was the 16th goal of the season for Holmes, who is a senior.
Caldwell had tied the game in the 75th minute when Tallie Branch blasted in a loose ball in front of the net following a long free kick from Harper Ritchey.
That came after Elissa Adams had given Hopkins Central a 1-0 lead in the 59th minute, scoring on a rebound on a free kick. Caldwell goalkeeper Rachel McClung made the initial save on the kick by Destiny Caudill , but Holmes and Adams were both there for the rebound, with Adams putting the ball in the net for the first goal of the night.
Caldwell held an 18-7 advantage in shots in the contest.
Brooklyn Clark made 10 saves in the Lady Storm net.
McClung recorded three stops for Caldwell.
Hopkins Central is now 6-4-1 overall and 1-1 in the district.
The Lady Tigers are 7-3-2 but 0-2 in the district.
Caldwell and Hopkins Central will meet again in the first game of the 7th District tournament the first week of October. Madisonville-North Hopkins is the No. 1 seed and gets a bye into the championship game of the three-team 7th District tournament.
Hopkins Central has taken the last three meetings in the series. However, Caldwell had won 27 in a row prior to that. The Lady Tigers still lead all-time 31-6.
Caldwell’s girls will play at Butler Stadium again Tuesday, this time hosting the Union County Bravettes.
Union is 2-10 after falling to Henderson County 10-0 in action Monday night.
The Lady Tigers have never lost to the Bravettes in soccer action, leading 11-0 all-time. That includes a 7-0 victory last season at Union County.
The varsity match will be played first, starting at 5:30. The JV contest will follow.
