The Lady Aces were unable to put Ohio County away early, as exceptional play from senior keeper Gracie Hall and clutch late goals from senior Carly Embry gave the Lady Eagles the 3rd Region Championship.
Owensboro Catholic came out of the gates physical and looking to apply pressure offensively. They created multiple chances in the first half, but weren’t able to connect until sophomore Ginny Young got the ball on the right side in the 19th minute and was off to the races.
She made her way down the right side of the pitch before getting in the box and passing the ball to junior Ella Claire Goetz in front of the keeper and tapping it in to take a 1-0 lead.
The Lady Aces continued to push the action creating multiple one-on-ones deep in their offensive third, but Hall came through with sliding save after sliding save to keep Ohio County trailing 1-0 going into halftime.
“I tried my best to stay aggressive,” Hall said. “I didn’t want to let my team down, but I knew if I kept being aggressive it would get their heads up.”
The Lady Aces continued to attack to open the second half, nearly breaking it open in the 58th minute. Senior Ashton Logsdon and Young both had open shots, but both sailed wide.
Minutes later Young had a chance again, but the first shot rang off the post and her rebound shot was saved to keep it at 1-0 in the 60th minute.
Doing no favors for their keeper, the Lady Eagles couldn’t stop Hayden from getting a breakaway. Rather than wait back, Hall charged Hayden and deflected the ball.
Hayden controlled it and scored, but a handball was called and it stayed a 1-0 Lady Aces lead in the 63rd minute.
The missed opportunities would come back to bite Owensboro Catholic, as Embry got some clean looks late and made them pay.
In the 68th minute Embry got the ball right outside the box and cut it to the right side, before her shot hit the post and ricocheted off of sophomore keeper Abby Payne and tied things up at 1-1.
A minute later Embry struck again, this time taking heavy contact but still bending the ball into the top shelf with her left foot to take a 2-1 lead.
With the crowd and all momentum quickly on their side, Ohio County took control of the match. The Lady Aces were struggling to possess for the final 11 minutes of the game and as their chances diminished, so did the time.
Owensboro Catholic got one more look in the 76th minute, but just like she had all game for Ohio County, Hall made the save and handed them a 2-1 loss.
Hall’s play was spectacular all 80 minutes and Head Coach Courtney Calloway wholeheartedly agrees.
“She saved us,” Calloway said. “She was everywhere… She’s been a four-year goalie starter for me and she’s grown every single season. She finally took it into her own hands tonight. I told her that, I was like ‘you’re gonna have to control this game,’ and luckily she did.”
Embry said the clutch play as of late by her team was the culmination of all their hard work and effort they put in on the pitch everyday.
“We worked for this all season and at the end of the day it’s our senior year and this is our home field,” Embry said. “I felt like at the end we wanted it more. We put 110% on the field and that’s what really showed.”
Head Coach Andy Hines felt that his team did a good job of marking Embry all game, but got distracted by a no-call which Embry took advantage of for the first goal and just nailed the second one with the crowd behind the Lady Eagles.
“I think the first one was allowed because of the foul,” Hines said. “I think we got caught thinking that’s a foul and she kept going. Then the second one I think that we just kind of lost our momentum from the first one.”
This marks the first 3rd Region Championship for Ohio County in 13 years, which Calloway played during.
Head Coach Andy Hines felt as though a few calls didn’t go their way and led to some goals, but was ultimately disappointed because they had chances to put them away and didn’t.
While the result wasn’t what they had in mind, Hines said that Owensboro Catholic will miss key seniors but will come back recharged next year with a chip on their shoulder.
“We’re gonna miss Ashton and Emilee…,” Hines said. “We’re gonna miss them, but I think we’re just building. I mean we want to beat Ohio County. I haven’t beat Ohio County yet. That’s my goal. I’m coming for them.”
