SHUTOUT SATURDAY: Pulaski and Somerset set up crosstown finals in 47th District Tournament
- Jacob Pratt
- Oct 5, 2024
- 7 min read
SOMERSET - The 47th District Tournament, and postseason soccer in general, begun in earnest on Saturday morning at Northern Middle School with three games on the schedule. The storylines were running deep as well, as Rockcastle was competing in their first-ever district tournament as a program, Somerset senior Tori Robertson was on the hunt for the all-time career scoring record in her program, and both the Jumpers and Maroons were looking to set up an all-local final in both the girls' and boys' tournaments.
By the end of the afternoon, those last two storylines reached their conclusion, as Somerset and Pulaski set up crosstown finals in both championship games to be played on Monday with all three games resulting in shutouts.
Somerset girls took on Rockcastle in the first of the day's games, with Robertson sitting just four goals away from the all-time career scoring record held by Somerset great Audrey Anderson. However, it was Gregory that scored the first goal of what ended up being a long half of soccer for the Lady Rockets, as her shot in the second minute found the back of the net off an assist from Robertson to put the Jumpers ahead early 1-0. Another shot from Gregory a minute after was no good after junior goalkeeper Senthia Sagraves stopped the potential goal at the goal line. Robertson found goal number one of the evening on a high-arching kick that went into the back of the net from the top of the box, giving Somerset a 2-0 advantage just seven minutes in.
Isabella McKenzie scored goals in back-to-back minutes, the 10th and 12th minutes to be exact, to almost immediately double her team's lead to 4-0. Just a minute later, Robertson had goal number two of her ball game as she connected with the goal while falling down on a bending kick, making it 5-0.
In the 14th minute, Arianna Childrey found a goal after getting a rebound off a deflection by a diving Sagraves, with Somerset firmly in control of this one 6-0. Goals from Robertson and Childrey were both voided over the next few minutes after offside calls from the referee crew. Robertson sat tied on the all-time scoring list at Somerset after a goal in the 20th minute following a rebound of her own free kick. This also gave her yet another hat trick for the season.
The record-breaking goal didn't have to wait much longer, as in the 22nd minute she connected from the top of the box for career goal number 135, setting the all-time program record for goals scored and etching the senior's name in the record books. That is what we define as an all-time great here in the Lake Cumberland area folks.
McKenzie joined her senior teammate with a hat trick with her goal in the 33rd minute from the top of the box, with the Jumpers ahead by nine with just a few minutes to go before the mercy rule came into play. A shot from senior Learin Raegan in the 39th minute was off before the Jumpers took the 9-0 win at the half via the mercy rule.
Somerset earns their 13th win of the season and advance on to Monday evening's championship game. Best of luck to Rockcastle seniors Jasmine Alcorn, Anna Chaliff, Kaylee Johnson, Kali Jones, Alivia Permenter, Learin Raegan and Katie Smithern on all of their future endeavors.
The second game up for the day was the Pulaski County Lady Maroons taking on the Lady Rebels of Casey County in the other girls' semifinal. This one was much more heavy on the defensive end of things, with only one goal being scored at the half. However, the Maroons were able to get enough goals scored to end the Rebels' season 3-0.
Pulaski wasn't able to get much going early on, although Ada Schepers, Vera Monroe and Madisyn Spurlock all had close attempts through the first 10 minutes or so. The Maroons were able to strike first though, as sophomore Maliyah Swinney was able to get open next to the left side of the goal for an easy shot, giving the hosts a swift 1-0 lead. Casey had their first close attempt of the game in the 19th minute by senior Gracie Smith, although Pulaski sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Phillippi was able to prevent a shot attempt.
Phillippi got her first save after a shot from Smith a minute later. Both Addisyn Dopp and Alyssa Salyer had shot attempts in the 23rd and 24th minutes, but again the Maroons couldn't connect with their target. Spurlock again had a look at the goal in the 30th minute, but her shot was deflected by senior goalkeeper Sharon Kirtley. After 10 minutes of solid defense by both squads, Pulaski took a 1-0 edge into the break.
Again, the hosts were on the attack to start off the second half, as Monroe, Sofia Landon and Salyer all had shot attempts in the first 10 minutes. They finally got one to go down in the 50th minute of the contest, as Dopp was able to connect with the top part of the goal from the top of the box for a 2-0 Pulaski County lead. Emily Purcell had a great look at the goal in the 53rd minute, but her shot sailed over the top of the net.
Monroe had a look in the 67th minute, but a backup goalkeeper was able to save it for the Lady Rebels. Aubrey Richardson had goal number three for the Maroons in the 69th minute, as she received a pass and immediately had a wide open field in front of the goal. Her shot sailed into the back of the net to make it 3-0. Phillippi had several clutch saves over the final few minutes of the contest to preserve the shutout, with the Maroons soon celebrating a 3-0 win over the Rebels.
Pulaski earns their ninth win of the season and will advance to Monday's 47th District title game against the winner of the earlier game in Somerset, with both teams having earned births into the 12th Region Tournament (which will be hosted by whoever wins this district tournament). Of note, however, was a potential injury suffered by Pulaski's defensive star Simi McAlpin. Prayers up that she will be alright. That game will kick at 6 p.m. on Monday evening. Best of luck to Casey County seniors Johonna Harpin, Sharon Kirtley, Ashlynd Pittman, Gracie Smith and Angelica Victoria-Garcia in all of their future endeavors.
The finale on Saturday afternoon was the lone semifinal of the 47th District Tournament between Pulaski County and Casey County, with the winner advancing to play number one seed Somerset on Monday night. Although this one went into the second half, it was ultimately a warm-up for the Maroons as they blew past the Rebels in an 8-0 mercy rule victory.
After a shot attempt from Julio Morales was deflected away by the foot of Casey's goalkeeper, Morales had the first goal of the game in the fifth minute after some great dribbling and a pass from Beau Cherry, giving the hosts a quick 1-0 lead. Owen Lewis had a hard shot in the seventh minute that went past a deflection from Gossage, with the junior earning a goal following an assist from Morales that made the score 2-0.
Casey had their first good look at the goal in the ninth minute, as junior Sam Gossage's shot was deflected away by a diving Keegan Keith in net. The third goal of the game was scored a minute later, as Dilan Perez received a solid pass from Ethan DaSilva to put his team up 3-0 with only 10 minutes gone off the clock. Defenses for both teams stepped up over the next 20 minutes, with dual yellow cards being called on both Pulaski and Casey County in the 25th minute.
Shots from DaSilva and Kaden Anderson in the 30th minute both bounced off the crossbar in a bit of bad luck for the Maroons. Lewis found his second goal of the game in the 36th minute, further increasing Pulaski's lead to 4-0. As it looked like that was going to be the score heading into the break, a foul was called on the Rebels with just four seconds left in the half. Jackson Parmalee was the one to take the penalty kick, with his shot going into the right side of the goal for a 5-0 Maroon lead at the half.
Perez and Leyton Bramble each had close looks in the 44th minute as Pulaski was looking for three more goals to trigger the mercy rule. Two minutes later, the Maroons were one step closer to that target following a second goal from Morales, as the senior was able to get straight to the front of the goal following a pass from Jay Venters to make it 6-0. A shot from Venters in the 46th minute sailed over the goal, before Perez became the second Maroon to score twice in the game on his shot off an assist from DaSilva, putting the hosts just one goal away from the mercy rule.
Shots from Wyatt Frank and Wyatt Fenison were just barely off in the 50th and 51st minutes respectively as Pulaski was desperate for goal number eight. They almost needed two though, as the Rebels had a close look at the goal in the 51st minute that was saved on a dive by Keith. The 55th minute finally brought that game-clinching goal, with Fenison getting a quick breakaway attempt that resulted in a goal and gave the Maroons the 8-0 win via the mercy rule not even halfway through the second half.
Pulaski earns win number nine of the season and will take on crosstown rival Somerset in the 47th District championship game on Monday night back at Northern Middle, with kick tentatively scheduled for 8 p.m. Best of luck to Casey County senior Jared Murrell on all of his future endeavors.
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