Often times sports can bring a wide swing of emotions, from the elation of a win, to the heartbreak of a loss. There may be no wider swing of the pendulum from joy to sorrow than what took place on the pitch at Fryar Stadium Monday night.
One moment, the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers were celebrating what they thought was a penalty kick win over the Christian County Lady Colonels, while members of the Lady Colonel soccer team sat on the artificial turf in stunned silence. Minutes later, it was the Lady Colonels rushing across the field in celebration, while the tears flowed freely from the eyes of the disappointed Hoptown players, as it ended up that Christian County would advance by the score of 7-6, and the Lady Tigers’ season had ended.
The two teams played through 80 minutes of regulation play and ended up tied 1-1. Two five minute sudden death periods resolved nothing. So it was off to penalty kicks to decide the match.
In the penalty kick round, both teams made their first two kicks. Hopkinsville made their third kick, and looked to have seized momentum when Megan Lacy missed her kick for Christian County. It was Lacy who drilled a direct kick from near the right front corner of the box at the 65:00 mark to tie the game at 1-1.
However, Hopkinsville’s goalie had left the line giving Lacy a second chance at the penalty kick. The second time she did not miss, and the penalty kick round continued.
Hopkinsville made their fourth kick, as did Christian County. The Lady Tigers made the 5th kick as well, putting all the pressure on Christian County’s Mackenzie Almy. Almy missed the kick and slumped to the ground in tears as the Hopkinsville Lady Tigers began to celebrate on the field. Almy was still on the ground when a teammate came rushing up to her to tell her that she would have another chance, as the Hopkinsville goalie had moved off the line a second time. It a moment for it to sink in with Almy, that she would get the try over. Like Lacy before her, Almy made the most of the 2nd chance, and the penalty kick round extended into extra kicks.
Hopkinsville’s Greer Givens had her kick stopped by Christian County goalie Payton Hale. Christian County’s Briana Rubio hit the cross bar with her kick, so it was on to the 7th round of penalties. Hale came up big again for Christian County, as she stopped the shot off the foot of Anna King. Lexie Hendricks then came up with a chance to win the match for Christian County. Hendricks detected the goalie leaning left, so she went low and right, and into the net, propelling Christian County into the district championship game and the 2nd Region tournament.
For Hopkinsville, there were tears and stunned silence as the joy from moments earlier, turned into the heartbreak of a season, and for the seniors, careers ended.
For Christian County, the win ended a string of 17 straight losses to Hopkinsville. It will also mark the first time Hopkinsville has not reached the region tournament since 2006.
Christian County and UHA will meet in the 8th District championship match Thursday at 6pm, with both teams advancing to the regional tournament.