A late-season matchup between the two highest RPI ranked teams in the 2nd Region, and it lived up to the billing. The UHA Lady Blazers rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the second half with a pair of goals to take a 2-1 win over the Hopkins County Central Lady Storm Thursday night at Givens Field.
The contest matched up UHA’s speed and attack on offense against the physical, strong defense of the Lady Storm
While UHA controlled much of the flow of play on the first 40 minutes, neither team was able to get on the board. The Lady Blazers had a handful of really good looks but could not convert. Hopkins Central’s best chance came on a run down the middle from Jaci Childress. However, a big play from UHA keeper Madison Williams closed the door on the opportunity.
For the opening half, UHA outshot the Lady Storm 14 to 3.
Hopkins County Central got the match’s first break when Emma Vandiver took a perfect through ball and broke open on a run down the middle, finding the net to give the Lady Storm a 1-0 lead at the 44:45 mark.
The Lady Blazers pulled even when Kendall Hancock scored through a crowd right in front of the net at 58:30. Hancock took the right-footed shot and sent it left to tie the match at 1-1.
The score stayed that way until under five minutes to go in the match. Alyssa Grise sent a shot towards the goal from the right side that deflected off the body of a defender standing right in front of Lady Storm keeper Savannah Barnett. Barnett helplessly watched the ball deflect in the opposite direction from which she was leaning as the Lady Blazers pulled in front for good.
For the night, UHA outshot Hopkins Central 24 to 5.
Central’s keeper, Savannah Barnett, did a masterful job of keeping the Lady Storm in the match, finishing with 14 saves.
UHA improves to 12-2-1 with the win. Hopkins County Central drops to 12-2-0.
