The Hopkins County Central Lady Storm took on the Henderson County Lady Colonels in the quarterfinal round of the 2nd Region Tournament, and it was the Lady Storm that was able to get the win and advance to the semifinals.
This was the first time Hopkins Central had beaten Henderson County, and they did so in a very dramatic fashion.
Neither team was able to break through with a goal in the first half, but it was the Lady Storm who were able to strike first. They did so with 25:28 left to play in the second half, and the goal came from Lilly Armour.
But right as the game looked like it was going to go to Hopkins Central in regulation, Henderson’s Adalayn Gish was able to put one into the back of the net and tie the game at one goal apiece. And that is how the second half ended.
After that, neither team was able to score in either of the five-minute periods that followed, so the game came down to a penalty shootout. Armour went first for the Lady Storm and was able to score, and goalkeeper SJ Barnett was able to save Henderson County’s first shot.
Neither team was able to score on their second shot, but Henderson’s Olivia Joyce and Hopkins Central’s Emma Vandiver both made each of their team’s third shot. After a miss from the Lady Colonels on their fourth shot, that meant that all the Lady Storm needed for the win was a made shot from Sydney McLemore, and that is exactly what she was able to do.
This was not only the first time that Hopkins Central has been able to beat Henderson County, but also Lady Storm Head Coach Ben Lutz thinks it is one of the biggest wins in program history.
“I think it’s definitely up there,” Lutz said. “This is only the second time we’ve made it to the semifinals of the region, so it has to be at least the second-best one. Hopefully, we can do the same thing on Monday night and make it to the region championship for the first time.”
The Lady Storm will go on to face off against the Trigg County Lady Wildcats in the semifinal round on Monday, October 13.
