The early Saturday evening start time didn’t seem to agree with the UHA boys’ soccer team, as they fell behind to the 1-10-1 Grayson County Cougars in the first half, but fought back late to equalize the match at 1-1 and were unlucky not to find the game-winner.
While UHA, ranked 7th in the YourSportsEdge.com 2nd Region rankings, controlled much of the first half, they were caught with a counter attack goal 12 minutes into the first half. The Blazers had some opportunities, but couldn’t get the equalizer before the halftime break.
UHA started the second half allowing themselves to be pinned in by the Cougars, but junior defenders Simon East and Hunter Traughber and the rest of the Blazer defense were able to hold the Cougars at bay. As the half wore on the Blazers began to apply steadily increasing pressure to the Cougar defense, paying off with an East header goal off a corner kick assist from junior midfielder Ian Calvert.
As the clock wound down, UHA seemed the fresher team, as Grayson County had played at Murray High School earlier in the day, losing 3-0 to the 4-6 Tigers. The Blazers pushed hard to get the winning goal over the last 5 minutes, with Calvert nearly bending in a corner kick, but instead hitting the crossbar. Time would run out on the Blazers, leaving them with their second draw of the season and a record of 3-3-2.
The remainder of September will be extremely busy for the Blazers, as they play 8 matches in the next 13 days. The stretch begins with a trip to Russellville to face a Panther team that has struggled to an 0-8 record, and ends with a home match with 1-7 Todd County Central. A big 8th District match looms on Tuesday, when the 7th ranked Fort Campbell Falcons (1-4-1) visit Givens Field.