After trailing throughout Friday’s matchup with visiting Lyon County, the Hopkinsville girls’ soccer team scored twice over the final eight minutes to stay unbeaten with a 3-3 draw.
Like Hopkinsville, Lyon County has a win and a tie on its record with a 2nd Region All ‘A’ Classic matchup with Fort Campbell coming up on Monday.
Lyon County hasn’t beaten the Lady Tigers since 2007, but after a 4-4 tie last year, the Lady Lyons were in front early on after a goal by Anna White.
After the teams returned to the field after a mandatory hydration break midway through the first half, Hoptown nearly tied the match when Kaylyn Burgess Lynch fired just wide of the post.
Instead, the Lady Lyons doubled their advantage with nine minutes left in the half when Olivia Adams beat a defender at the top of the 18-yard box and fired into the back of the net.
The Lady Tigers found some momentum going into the break after McKenzie Hyams was the first to react to Rebecca Wood’s free-kick into the box. With Lyon goalkeeper Sadie Gandee charging out, Hyams rolled it under her to cut the lead in half.
Lyon County forward Alice Smith was a threat all night, and she shot just wide in the opening minute of the second half. Just six and a half minutes later, Smith was on target after outrunning a defender down the right side.
Hoptown came close to denting the lead on a couple of occasions but still faced a two-goal deficit with eight minutes left. A foul in the box gave the Lady Tigers a lifeline, and Kendall Mayes converted from the PK spot for a 3-2 score.
Needing a goal, coach Jeff Addison moved Grace Cansler into the attack, and it almost paid immediately, but her shot from close range was straight at the keeper.
However, Cansler wouldn’t waste her second chance, collecting the ball in the box and putting her shot low into the corner to pull the Lady Tigers even.
Neither team could carve out a chance for the winner over the last three minutes, and the game ended knotted at 3-3.
DeAijha Tullis made five saves in goal for the Lady Tigers. At the opposite end, Gandee made two saves over the first 40 minutes, and Richmond Herring made eight stops after coming on at the break.
Hopkinsville hosts Union County on Monday in the last of three home matches to start the season, followed by a trip to Muhlenberg County on Tuesday.
