It was expected to be a battle between two of the best girls soccer teams in the area and it lived up to that billing. In what could be a preview of a regional championship match, the University Heights Academy Lady Blazers outlasted the Madisonville-North Hopkins Lady Maroons Tuesday night at Givens Field.
The win was the second straight for the Lady Blazers over the Lady Maroons. UHA knocked off Madisonville 4-1 in last season’s regional semifinals at Henderson County.
All of the scoring action, but most certainly not all of the action, took place in the first 21 minutes of the match.
The Lady Blazers set the Lady Maroons on their heels early when Kendall Hancock broke open going down the field inside the first minute of the contest to give UHA an early 1-0 lead. Skyler Cantrell assisted on the goal.
University Heights had a couple of chances to extend the lead over the next 15 minutes. Hancock had a hard shot deflect off the inside of the left post at 5:00, but instead of deflecting into the net, the shot deflected across the front of the goal.
At 15:00, Audrey Perry lined up for a penalty kick after the Lady Maroons were called for a hand ball in the box. Perry drilled the shot but the goal was waved off after the Lady Blazers were called for encroaching the box on the shot.
UHA did convert on a third chance to extend their lead. Skyler Cantrell found the net at 17:00 and the Lady Blazer lead increased to 2-0.
Four minutes later, the Lady Maroons got on the board and got back into the contest. Kailey Barber and UHA keeper Madison Williams had a big collision near the right front corner of the box as both went to make a play on the ball. The Lady Maroons got the loose ball and missed an initial shot attempt, however, Hannah Davis was there to take the miss and put it into the goal to cut the UHA lead to 2-1.
But, that ended up being the last goal of the night as neither team could find the net again after that and the Lady Blazers held on for the win.
University Heights finishes the regular season at 12-3. The open 8th District tournament play Monday evening against Christian County.
Madisonville-North Hopkins ends the regular season with a record of 10-6-1. The Lady Maroons will take on the winner of Caldwell County and Hopkins County Central in the 7th District championship next Tuesday in Madisonville.
