Make it a three-peat for the University Heights Academy Blazers. UHA scored a goal in the waning seconds of the first half and then another in the opening moments of the second half to take control of the match and then go on to take a 4-1 win over the Hopkinsville Tigers in the 8th District championship at Fryar Stadium.
The script for the Blazers was somewhat similar to their semifinal win over Fort Campbell. For much of the first half, the two teams battled back and forth, with neither able to find the net. Both had opportunities to score and both had shots ricochet off the frame.
In fact, for most of the first half, it felt like the Tigers had the momentum and were the aggressor, but they just could not convert the chances when they arose.
The whole flow of the match changed in the final seconds of the first half. Ethan Hale broke clear on a run and found the net at 39:30 to give the Blazers a 1-0 lead going into the break.
The Blazers came out of the break and quickly hit the Tigers with a blow that made sure the momentum stayed on their side. Logan Miller headed a long kick from Clayton Lester past Kenneth McMickens and extended the UHA lead to 2-0.
The 1-2 combination seemed to ignite the Blazer offense, much like the late first half goal had Tuesday night against Fort Campbell. Preston Thomas took a pass from Matthew Hauret and scored at 57:30 to make it a 3-0 lead for the Blazers. Ethan Hale scored his second goal of the night a little later on a run down the left side where the goalie came out to try and make a play to run the lead out to 4-0.
Hoptown was able to avoid being shut out when Nick Klar found an opening on the left side and cut the margin to 4-1.
UHA got a big night from goalie Quinton Quarles, who made several big plays in goal, especially in the first half of play when the Tigers play a significant amount of time in the Blazers’ end of the field.
The win puts University Heights at 13-6. The Blazers have won five straight and eight of their last nine.
Hopkinsville drops to 11-9-1.
Both teams will now advance to next week’s 2nd Region tournament, which is being played at Henderson County.
