The University Heights girls’ soccer team and visiting Ohio County played out a nine-goal thriller on Monday at Givens Field, with the Lady Blazers falling 5-4 despite two goals in the match’s final five minutes.
The Lady Blazers lost for the first time after starting the season with seven straight wins. Ohio County snapped a three-game skid to even its record at 6-6.
The Lady Eagles took last season’s meeting 12-2, and while Monday’s matchup figured to be much closer, Ohio County took a lead inside the first four minutes on a Lady Blazer own goal off a corner kick.
Emily Goff nearly doubled the advantage when she dribbled past Lady Blazer goalkeeper Madison Williams, but her shot sailed wide of the near post.
Three good chances followed for UHA to tie the match, including some nice work from Audrey Perry and Kendall Hancock before Sophie Gaddis saved Perry’s shot from ten yards out.
The pressure finally paid off for the Lady Blazers with 12:45 left in the half when Hancock’ shot off a free kick into the box was saved, and she rolled the rebound into an open net to tie the match.
However, Goff put the Lady Eagles in front 2-1 when her left-footed shot found the net with just over two minutes until the break.
UHA didn’t have to wait long for the equalizer as Perry scored from 25 yards out just four minutes into the second half. Hancock nearly gave the Lady Blazers the lead twice, but Goff struck against the run of play for her second goal to restore the Ohio County edge with 28:25 left to play.
Anna Payne made it 4-2 with a first-time finish off a cross, and Emily Tichenor stretched the Lady Eagle cushion to three goals with a shot from the right side of the box to the far side-netting.
But the Lady Blazers weren’t surrendering their perfect record easily, with Hancock scoring low to the corner after a cross from Skyler Cantrell and Perry converting a penalty kick just a minute later to cut the deficit to a goal with four minutes remaining.
UHA continued to push for the tying goal, but the Lady Eagles held on for their fourth-straight win in the series.
The five goals allowed are two more than the number the Lady Blazers allowed over their first seven matches. Williams made four saves for UHA, and Gaddis made five stops for Ohio County.
