FLATWOODS —
Ashland’s girls found an ideal way to ease the sting from a couple of regular season soccer losses to archrival Russell.
After playing a lackluster first half in the 63rd District Tournament final Wednesday night, the LadyCats came alive for a 3-2 victory at Russell Soccer Complex.
Ashland senior Sarah Hudson said the team pulled together after receiving a halftime pep talk from coach E.B. Lowman. Russell led 2-1 at the break.
“In the first half, we didn’t have a lot communication. It was almost like we were scared because of the previous scores,” Hudson said of 4-3 and 5-1 losses to Russell. “As the starters walked out on the field for the second half, we talked about this being a proving ground. We decided this was our time to win.”
After being outshot by a wide margin in the first 40 minutes, Ashland played with purpose the rest of the way to win its fourth district title in five years.
Hudson set up the tying goal in the 49th minute.
Shortly after being fouled in Ashland’s end, the active midfielder advanced the ball and then used her head to tap the ball in the direction of teammate Ragan Neil. The sophomore popped a shot over Russell’s goalkeeper, who had come several yards out onto the field.
The LadyCats remained in attack mode, getting the game winner from sophomore Charity Collins midway through the second half.
Aidan Young helped get Ashland in position, then Collins did the rest. She settled the ball and fired a long, perfectly placed shot into the upper left corner of the net for her 30th goal of the season.
“She’s phenomenal, our game changer,” Hudson said. “I don’t know where our team would be without her.”
Russell coach Joe Grizzle tipped his cap to Collins for the decisive goal.
“It was like 30 or 35 yards out,” he said. “It was a keeper’s nightmare. You just can’t get to a ball like that.”
Collins also scored Ashland’s first goal. She gave the LadyCats an early 1-0 lead on a PK after Hudson took a spill in the penalty box.
The LadyCats (13-6-4) are unbeaten since their emotional four-goal loss to Russell three weeks ago. Lowman said the team imploded that night, but gradually worked through its problems.
“We totally broke down and lost our team concept, then came around and worked on healing wounds,” Lowman said. “It’s a tribute to this bunch of young women to get beyond that.”
Russell (13-8) controlled play for most of the first half. Heather Hencye connected on a booming shot in the 23rd minute. Ashley Huffine headed in a Hencye corner kick toward the end of the half to put the Lady Devils up 2-1.
Grizzle, however, was disappointed with Russell’s performance after the intermission.
“We got the 2-1 lead and I guess they thought that was all they had to do,” Grizzle said. “We were flat the second half, and I don’t know why. You can’t play that way in a big game.”
Both teams advance to next week’s 16th Region Tournament, which will be hosted by the 61st District winner.
“We will see what happens then,” Grizzle said. “Hopefully we will be ready to play.”
ROCKY STANLEY can be reached at rstanley@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2671.
Local Sports
Related Photos
-
Ashland's Charity Collins and Russell's Kodie Patrick during the second period of the 63rd District championship. Kevin Goldy / The Independent
Discussion
63rd District Girls Soccer: Ashland atones
LadyCats push regular season losses to Russell aside for title
- Local Sports
-
-
Womack eliminated in semifinals
Top-seeded Kennedy Womack was eliminated in the semifinals of the State Tournament on Saturday at the University of Kentucky tennis courts.
-
Big-inning Dawgs
It looked for a while that a questionable call may have determined the outcome of the game, but in the end, it was just an afterthought.
-
Boyd County finds senior spark
Losers of four straight, Boyd County was searching for something positive Friday night before beginning postseason play Monday night.
-
Doubles teams head to semis at state tourney
With rain staying away, the KHSAA State Tennis Tournament got into full swing on Friday afternoon.
Semifinals and finals will be held today at the University of Kentucky Boone/Downing Tennis Complex for boys and girls singles competitions. -
McKnight hurdling to Georgetown
Fairview’s Paige McKnight is known for jumping hurdles. She cleared a pretty big one on Thursday.
In front of friends and family at Fairview Elementary School, McKnight signed a letter of intent to run track for Georgetown College. -
Several area schools will be represented at State Track and Field championships
Local track and field athletes are ready to try to carry region competition success onto the state stage.
Several area schools will be represented at this weekend’s State Track and Field championships at the University of Louisville. The Class 2A meet is set for today at 3:15 p.m. and Class A competition is scheduled to begin on Saturday at 8:15 a.m. -
EAST KENTUCKY BASKETBALL HISTORY: Reflections on 'The Shot'
Paintsville High School legend J.R. VanHoose is also an eastern Kentucky basketball sports historian. This is one in an ongoing series of stories.
-
The Three Musketeers
Heavy rain turned into a light drizzle as Greenup County seniors Seth Boyle, Zach Hutchinson and Will McCall entered the press box, seemingly nervous for the Musketeers’ upcoming Senior Night festivities.
-
Rowan’s Stone inks with Ky. Christian
Four years ago, Jalen Stone had zero plans to go to college. As a freshman, Stone did not think his ability to play the game of basketball would take him anywhere.
-
7-8-9 hitters drive in 7 as Ashland beats Russell 13-3
Some of the world’s most fascinating discoveries once lied at the bottom of the sea.
Russell pitchers have found it less than entertaining to explore the bottom of Ashland’s lineup this season. The Tomcats’ 7-8-9 hitters collected seven RBIs as the Tomcats sank the Red Devils, 13-3, in five innings on Tuesday at Ashland’s Alumni Field. - More Local Sports Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
