University Heights Academy’s first trip to the Girls’ All-A Classic State Tournament in six years was a short one as Prestonsburg dealt the Lady Blazers a 3-1 defeat in the quarterfinals Saturday morning in Frankfort.
The Lady Blackcats scored twice in the game’s first 13 minutes to build a lead the Lady Blazers couldn’t overcome. Prestonsburg (13-1) came into the match as the top scoring team in the state at 9 goals per game and featured the state’s leading scorer in Anna Burchett (59 goals). However, Burchett was held without a goal in the match.
Makayla Ousley scored the first goal with 34:12 left in the opening quarter when she cleaned up a teammate’s miss in front of the net.
Chloe Collins extended the lead to 2-0 when she rebounded a corner kick and found the right corner.
UHA had trouble getting the ball past midfield for most of the first half. While Prestonsburg entered the day as the state’s leading scoring team, their defense had allowed just 11 goals in 13 games.
A handball in the goalbox by UHA gave Prestonsburg’s Elizabeth Burchett a penalty kick, which she converted with 10:43 left in the half for a 3-0 lead.
Things continued to go against UHA when Emma Perry was given a questionable red card for retaliating on a physical play. The Lady Blazers were forced to play a man down for the final 44 minutes of the match.
UHA got on the board seven minutes into the second half when Ashlyn Parker got behind the Prestonsburg defense for the goal. UHA had a couple more good looks in the half, including a Grace Pape shot that caromed off the side of the crossbar.
Each team had nine shots in the contest, and each goalie made five saves.
University Heights (6-5-2) will return to action Saturday at home against Collins as part of the school’s fall festival on campus.