YOUTH MOVEMENT: Lady Maroons take down Whitley

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County sophomore Ella Foster (22) battles for possession of the ball during the Maroons' 4-2 victory over Whitley County on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2024.

Pulaski was fresh off a tie against Danville and hadn't played a single game at home coming into Tuesday evening's tilt against Whitley County. Oh, and add in that Whitley County senior Autumn Sawyers was the state's leading scorer last year with 61 (!!) goals, yeah talk about tough first home outing. Even despite getting out to an early lead, Sawyers kept answering with a goal to tie things up. Tied 2-2 with about 30 minutes left in the game, the youth of the Maroons took charge, as two sophomores had impressive goals en route to a 4-2 win for Pulaski County.

Whitley was the first team with a shot on the goal, as senior Makenzie Carr had a shot in the second minute that sailed wide of the goal. Sawyers had her first shot attempt in the fourth minute, although sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Phillippi had no intention of letting the Lady Colonels score first as she saved the opportunity. Pulaski then had their first flash of offense in the eighth and ninth minute, as shots from junior Alyssa Salyer and sophomore Madisyn Spurlock went wide of the goal. Senior Andrea Dees had a penalty kick in the 11th minute that bounced off the top crossbar as still there was no score in the contest.

The Colonels came dangerously close to scoring in the 18th minute, as they had three straight open looks at the net that were continuously deflected by Phillippi. The home team finally broke through, however, in the 21st minute, as junior Chloe Stogsdil managed to get on a breakaway past two defenders, hitting the ball into the left side of the net for a 1-0 lead.

Sawyers tied the game up just three minutes later, as the senior got her first goal of the season on yet another breakaway, and with some fancy footwork managed to get past a defender and the diving goalkeeper to find the back of an empty net, knotting things up at 1-1. Shots from Pulaski in the 29th and 34th minutes were wide before Whitley found themselves with a perfect opportunity to take the lead in the 36th minute, with Sawyers attempting another penalty kick. This one bended wide right of the goal however, as the teams were coming close to a tie at the break.

Photo by Jacob Pratt: Pulaski County sophomore goalkeeper Jessica Phillippi attempts to dive to save the ball during the contest between the Lady Maroons and the Whitley County Lady Colonels.

However, Stogsdil was able to find the back of the net a second time in the 38th minute. A light shot from the junior made it just past a diving goalkeeper and went over the goal line, giving the Lady Maroons a 2-1 edge heading into half that felt anything but safe.

That lead didn't last long to open the second half either, as Sawyers found an opportunity in the 44th minute, with her shot sailing into the left side of the goal after a diving save opportunity from Phillippi that pushed the game into a 2-2 tie. Both teams played solid defense for the next 10 minutes or so, with shots from Stogsdil and Salyer for Pulaski and Sawyers for Whitley going wide of the net. It was then time for the young talent of the Lady Maroons to take over.

Sophomore Emily Purcell got the call to come off the bench and did the absolute most with her opportunity, as in the 53rd minute she was able to get a quick breakaway opportunity and connected with a shot into the left side of the goal, putting her team back on top 3-2. It seemed every time down the field for the Lady Colonels that Sawyers was dribbling through endless amounts of players and it seemed like only a matter of time before the game would once again be tied up late in the ball game.

An attempt by Sawyers in the 63rd minute was narrowly deflected away by Phillippi as the Maroons were desperately trying to create some space. It was once again, however, that an underclassman stepped up for Pulaski late in the game, as sophomore Ella Foster was able to get a quick shot off in the 65th minute that trickled into the left side of the net, giving Pulaski a now two-goal lead and the space they were so desperately trying to get. Try as they may, the Colonels just couldn't get another goal in the contest, as the defense of the Lady Maroons held strong over the final 15 minutes of the game as they earned a 4-2 victory over Whitley County.

Now sitting at 3-1-1, Pulaski will hit the road again on Thursday as they travel to Wayne County. First kick against the Lady Cardinals is set for 6 p.m.