One of the tough things about “golden goal” overtime periods in tournament play is that one second you are battling to win the match you are in and the very next second, your season has come to an end. Gabe Harton’s goal in the opening seconds of the 2nd overtime was the difference Tuesday night as the Hopkinsville Tigers got past the Christian County Colonels 2-1 in an 8th District semifinal at Fryar Stadium at Fort Campbell.
The goal left the Tigers in full blown celebration mode, while many of the Colonels dropped to the stadium turf, stunned with the brutal suddenness with which their season had come to an end.
The match was a defensive struggle for much of the night. The two teams played through a scoreless first forty minutes. While it was scoreless, the half felt like the Tigers had controlled much of the action, but could not find the net. Christian County had a big first half from freshman goalie Mason Malone, who had nine saves in the half and kept the Colonels right in the contest.
The second half was more of the same, except for 30-second stretch in the middle. After a foul on the Tigers, Alex Hale put a free kick on frame and just out of the reach of Hoptown goalie Kenneth McMickens to give the Colonels a 1-0 lead at 61:30
However, before Christian County had a chance to take advantage of the momentum of the score, Hopkinsville rushed up the field and Nick Klar broke open and put the ball into the net to even the score at 1-1 at the 62:00 mark. That quick response would turn out to be the second biggest moment of the night.
Neither team would score again, although both had chances, over the final 18 minutes of regulation. The same was true for the first five minute overtime period, setting up Harton’s game winning shot in the second overtime.
Hoptown goes to 11-8-1 on the year and advances to Thursday night’s boys’ 8th District championship match against University Heights.
Christian County’s season ends at 7-10-2.
