Before region realignment five years ago, Second Region girls’ soccer champions always found it tough to get past the First Region champion in order to advance to the state tournament. Marshall County was the usual suspect that ended long runs made by Caldwell County, Lyon County, and Hopkinsville in the 2000s.
In the 2010s, Murray is now the roadblock for the Second Region All-A winner. For the sixth time in seven years, the Lady Tigers have dashed the hopes of UHA advancing to the All-A Classic State Tournament. Murray scored five unanswered goals to beat UHA 5-2 Monday at Givens Field.
The Lady Blazers had control of the contest early as Sheldon Covington rebounded a missed shot and found the top of the net seven minutes in to give UHA an early 1-0 lead.
Seven minutes later, Kate Cansler battled a Murray defender and goalie out in the goal box. The ball squirted away, and Cansler knocked it in for a 2-0 UHA lead.
Both teams had a couple of shots to score again but were turned away, including UHA defender Alli Cundiff kicking away a shot heading to the net.
The first half was physical on the field, which led to a turning point just before halftime. Murray coach Shauna Traylor received a yellow card for yelling at a UHA player across the field for play that she felt was too physical. The action seemed to fire up the Lady Tigers as Kess Kelly scored four minutes before halftime to bring Murray to within 2-1. UHA argued that Murray was offsides before the shot went in and may have had a case.
Despite being down 2-1, Murray took the momentum into halftime. UHA didn’t have the same aggression in the early moments of the second half as Murray won nearly every 50-50 ball and controlled the midfield.
Murray tied the match when Lydia Grogan fired a free kick that caromed off the UHA wall and into the net with 16 minutes left. The dagger came with six minutes left when Taylor Pologruto fired a shot that hit a UHA defender and misdirected into the net for a 3-2 Murray lead.
Grogan would score two more goals for Murray in the final six minutes to complete her hat trick and complete the Lady Tiger comeback.
Murray (8-3) will advance to the All-A State Tournament where they will play Walton-Verona Saturday.
UHA (8-2) will try and bounce back Thursday when they play at Henderson County.
