University Heights Academy is back in the region title game after an 8-1 win over Caldwell County Wednesday in the semifinals Wednesday at the Stadium of Champions.
The Lady Blazers scored twice in the game’s first three minutes. Lilly Strader scored the first UHA goal, and Grace Pape added the second for the 2-0 lead.
UHA went up 3-0 on a Caldwell own goal midway through the first half. Strader scored her second goal of the half on a breakaway with 10 minutes left in the half, giving the Lady Blazers a 4-0 lead that stood up at halftime.
Strader completed her hat trick 10 minutes into the second half for a 5-0 UHA lead. Pape, who scored three long goals in UHA’s district title game win over Christian County, added her second of the game with another long shot with 15 minutes left.
Kate Cansler scored the final two goals for the Lady Blazers, who picked up their 11th straight win over Caldwell County dating back to 2012.
Sandwiched between Cansler’s second half goals was a Lainey Fletcher tally with 12 minutes left. It was the 16th goal of the season for the Caldwell County senior.
Caldwell County’s season ends at 11-13 and a game shy of a second straight region title game appearance.
UHA (13-6) will face three-time defending champion Henderson County, a 4-2 winner over Madisonville. Henderson is 10-0-1 all-time against UHA and have ended the Lady Blazers’ season in the region tournament each of the last three seasons.