It was an ‘elite’ performance, or more specifically, an Elite 8 worthy performance. Kaytee Parish was a wall for the Madisonville-North Hopkins Lady Maroons Tuesday night. Let me stress, a solid rock wall. The senior keeper turned back shot after shot from the Bowling Green Lady Purples as the Lady Maroons fought their way to a 2-1 win and a berth in the girls’ soccer Elite 8 later this week.
The Lady Purple attack was relentless but Parish and the rest of the Lady Maroon defense was up to the task turning back all but one scoring opportunity. Bowling Green got off 23 shots but only Emma Macy’s shot at the 23:00 mark found the net.
It was Macy’s goal that put Bowling Green in front, breaking the scoreless deadlock that lasted for a big chunk of the first half.
Madisonville had a great chance to get to the lead in the first minutes of the match but the Bowling Green keeper was somehow able to cover up a ball that was just asking to be put into the net by the Lady Maroons.
The Lady Maroons did not let Bowling Green keep the early momentum for long. Madison Hill took a pass and found the net just over four minutes later to even things up at 1-1.
Bowling Green, who outshot the Lady Maroons in the first half 8 to 2, had chances to get back to the lead in the half but Parish and the Lady Maroons would have none of it.
Bowling Green had what might have been its best shot to get back to the lead at 46:30 but a shot attempting, coming off a perfect crossing pass, was just off target.
The Lady Maroons would make the Lady Purples pay for not converting that opportunity.
Just 90 seconds later, Madison Hill took a shot on a breakaway that deflected off the keepers’ fingertips and found the corner of the goal to put Madisonville up 2-1.
From there it was a matter of Parish and the rest of the defense turning back the Lady Purple attack, which got more frenetic as they saw the seconds of their season and state title hopes slipping away.
Appropriately enough, the last shot attempt from Bowling Green was smothered by Parish, and shortly thereafter the Maroon student section, which had been boisterous all night long, stormed the field in celebration.
Madisonville-North Hopkins improves to 15-6-1 with the win and moves on to the state quarterfinals, which will be played Saturday in Madisonville as the Lady Maroons will face Sacred Heart.
It will be a bit of deja vu in that matchup. The last time the Lady Maroons advanced to the quarterfinal round was 2014. That year, Madisonville-North Hopkins beat Bowling Green by a single goal in the opening round and advanced to face, you guessed it Sacred Heart.
