BACK-TO-BACK: Boyle takes down West Jess in regional finals in extra time
- Jacob Pratt
- Oct 19, 2024
- 3 min read
SOMERSET - For the second straight season, the Lady Rebels of Boyle County met the West Jessamine Colts for the right to represent the 12th Region in the Girls’ Soccer State Tournament. Also for a second straight season, fans at Clara Morrow Field were in store for an absolute classic out on the pitch. In fact, the two teams needed extra time to settle things as they were tied at 2-2, but a very quick goal in the first overtime period handed the Rebels their second-straight regional crown 3-2.
Freshman goalkeeper Sophie Bolton had a fantastic diving save in the sixth minute of the contest. A free kick from Madison Andrews two minutes later was wide as both teams saw early looks at the net. More close attempts by the Colts followed until Joanna Tucker laid out for a shot past the goalkeeper in the 13th minute, giving her a goal and putting the Colts up 1-0.
Tucker had several other quality looks in the minutes that followed, before Boyle tied things up in the 21st minute following a shot from Ellen Gnann. Kami McKibben had a close look in the 26th minute that resulted in the Colt going down for a few minutes due to an apparent injury. A header from Ellery Taylor in 31st minute was just wide as the Colts were trying desperately to prevent the go-ahead goal. Bolton kept going strong in net and prevented a score for the remainder of the half, keeping things tied at 1-1 heading into the break.
Shots from Maggie Gnann and Taylor early on in the second half just narrowly missed their targets. Sophia Rom-Touch broke the tie in the 51st minute, as she had a quick breakaway attempt with her shot sailing past Addie Cannon in net. Boyle didn’t wait long to tie things right back up however, as Gnann converted on a penalty kick after a foul in the box in the 54th minute. A West Jessamine coach was also issued a yellow card before the try.
Multiple yellow cards were issued over the latter half of the second half, with things getting chippy on both sides. Kylie Marcum thought she had the third goal of the evening for the Colts in the 66th minute but was called for offsides. The coach for the Colts was ejected following a red card within the same minute, with again multiple cards being called over the remaining minutes of the half.
Turns out, 80 minutes just wasn’t enough for either team, as they were deadlocked at 2-2 heading into the first overtime period. The Lady Rebels wasted absolutely zero time off the first kick of overtime though, as they had a perfect through ball to Addison Hazlett for the game-winning and region-clinching goal, as Boyle defeated West Jessamine 3-2.
The 12th Region All-Tournament Team was announced following the game. Representing Wayne County was Allison Perez, representing Lincoln County was Hallie Mullins, representing East Jessamine was Norah Fitzpatrick, representing Pulaski County was Jessica Phillippi, representing Southwestern was Clare Marie Ramsey and Jessalyn Flynn, representing Somerset was Isabella McKenzie and Tori Robertson, representing West Jessamine was Kylie Marcum, Nola Marcum and Madison Andrews, and representing Boyle County was Claire Combs, Ellery Taylor, Reagan Britt and Maggie Gnann.
West Jessamine finishes the season with a record of 6-9-3. Best of luck to their lone senior Madison Andrews on all the best in her future endeavors.
Boyle County improves to 17-6-2 and will represent the 12th Region in the state tournament that begins next week. Their first game will be at the champions of the 10th Region, the Campbell County Camels, on Monday.
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