After two weeks away from the soccer pitch, one of which was due to the school’s annual Outdoor School, University Heights Academy looked fresh and focused as they beat Lyon County 9-0 Tuesday in the All-A Classic region semifinals at Givens Field.
Sarah Covington recorded a hat trick in the game’s first 11 minutes, and the Lady Blazers never looked back in winning their 19th straight game in All-A region play.
After Covington opened the scoring in the seventh minute, Molly Bennett followed two minutes later with a goal for a quick 2-0 UHA lead.
Covington capped off her hat trick with two goals in a two-minute stretch for a 4-0 Lady Blazer lead.
Emma Perry got in on the scoring fun in the 21st minute when her shot in front found the net for a 5-0 lead.
Grace Pape scored UHA’s final two goals of the first half. The first was a 30-yard blast with 12 minutes left in the half, and the second one was a pretty goal preceded by the Lady Blazer junior weaving through three defenders in front of the goal to cap a seven-goal half for UHA.
Bennett scored her second goal of the game two minutes into the second half as the Lady Blazers worked their way to the 10-goal mercy rule. Pape completed her hat trick with 30 minutes left for a 9-0 UHA lead.
However, the Lady Blazers went scoreless over the final 30 minutes, missing on 11 shots after the ninth goal was scored.
For the second straight game, Lyon County had trouble controlling the midfield and creating offense. They managed just one shot in the game.
It was UHA’s fourth straight win over Lyon County in the All-A Region Tournament in six seasons but the first time the full 80 minutes were played. Lyon’s last win over UHA came in 2009.
After a nine-day stretch that saw the Lady Lyons go 1-3, they will get some rest before a Monday game at Christian County. The Lady Lyons’ record stands at 5-4.
UHA (2-2) will play at Fort Campbell Thursday for the championship. The Lady Falcons edged Caldwell County 1-0 Tuesday in the other semifinal.