University Heights found themselves in an unfamiliar spot in All-A Classic Region play – trailing. Fort Campbell scored inside the game’s first two minutes to grab a 1-0 lead over the Lady Blazers in their semifinal matchup on post Tuesday.
UHA then asserted themselves like champions often do. The Lady Blazers scored ten consecutive goals – including six straight by Lilly Strader – to win 10-1 and move into Thursday’s championship match against Lyon County.
Hannah Eastes cleaned up in front of the goal and banged home a shot to give the Lady Falcons an early 1-0 lead.
UHA tied the game two minutes later when Kate Cansler knocked in her own missed shot to tie the game at 1-1. The goal seemed to awaken the Lady Blazers.
Senior Lilly Strader scored the next six goals for the Lady Blazers, including the final five of the first half. The Murray State commit added another goal early in the second half as the Lady Blazers controlled the midfield, racking up 26 shots on the night.
Grace Pape ended Strader’s scoring run with a perfectly placed shot from 30 yards out for an 8-1 lead. Strader would feed Cansler for her second goal of the match, and Pape would knock home another 30-yarder to end the scoring for UHA.
Fort Campbell goalie Hannah Salas knocked away several on-target Lady Blazer shots throughout the match to keep it from ending early due to the mercy rule.
Cansler had two assists for the Lady Blazers, while Strader and Piper Hancock each tallied one.
Strader now has 140 career goals for UHA and Tuesday tied Trigg County’s Lauren Frazier for fourth most in Second Region history. Former Hopkinsville standout Lexie Bozell has the girls’ region record with 163.
UHA (2-0) will shoot for their tenth straight All-A Classic region title when they play Lyon County Thursday in Marion. The Lady Lyons beat Crittenden County 11-1 Tuesday.