Riley Dunlap had a hat trick as Hopkins County Central held off Caldwell County for berth in the 7th District championship game.
Dunlap broke a 4-4 deadlock with a penalty kick late in the game, and the Storm moved out with a 6-5 triumph in Monday’s district semifinal round matchup at Butler Stadium in Princeton.
Hopkins Central (10-6) will take on top-seeded Madisonville-North Hopkins (5-10-1) in Tuesday’s 7:30 p.m. title tilt.
But the Storm had to fight past Caldwell’s young squad, which had entered the postseason on a three-match winning streak.
The Tigers (6-10) overcame deficits of 3-0 and 4-1 to tie the game when Kale Turmero connected on a long shot in the 62nd minute. That made it 4-4 and seemed to have momentum on Caldwell’s side.
But Hopkins Central answered 5 minutes later when Dunlap was taken down in the box and converted the PK.
The Storm picked up a little more breathing room in the 74th minute when Cohl Hoard scored from the right side after his initial shot rebounded back to him. Hoard’s shot hit just inside the far post to give Hopkins Central a 6-4 advantage.
That goal proved crucial when Caldwell scored again in the 78th minute to make it a one-goal game. Isaiah Noel put the ball in the net following a corner kick from Colin Turmero to cut the margin to 6-5.
However, Hopkins Central did not allow the Tigers a good look to try to tie the game.
The Storm outshot the Tigers 27-11.
Hopkins Central got out to a quick start in the contest with three goals in the first 20 minutes.
Dunlap converted a PK in the 7th minute.
He then assisted on a goal by Jude Mitchell in the 8th minute.
Talon Stephens scored with help from Mason Gallimore in the 19th minute.
Caldwell got on the scoreboard in the 24th minute when Colin Turmero found the range on a long free kick.
But Dunlap got his second goal in the 34th minute, this time with help from Mitchell on a through ball to make it 4-1.
The Tigers picked up some momentum just before halftime when Anderson Garcia scored off a Colin Turmero assist. That goal came with just 4 seconds left in the half and got Caldwell within 4-2 at the break.
Caldwell crept closer in the 49th minute when Gaige Sherrill scored following a corner kick to make it 4-3.
The Tigers then tied it on the Kale Turmero goal with Garcia picking up the assist.
Hopkins Central also beat Caldwell 6-5 during the regular season.
William Clevenger recorded four saves in the Storm net.
Grayson Harris made 11 stops for the Tigers.
Caldwell leads the all-time series 27-12-1.
Madisonville blanked Hopkins Central 6-0 when the teams met during the regular season.
