It’s been a couple of years since Hopkinsville and Christian County played a regular season soccer match with an intense postseason feel, but that changed Thursday as the Tigers scored the final three goals to win 5-1.
Christian County was looking to snap a two-game skid that came following a three-match winning streak. However, it was Hopkinsville that struck first when Steven Hermosillo scored just four minutes into the contest.
Both teams would go scoreless the next 28 minutes as Colonel goalie Ben Settle knocked away several Hoptown chances to extend their lead. And it was the Tiger defense that limited the looks Christian County got during that stretch.
Tyler Greenwell scored off a Zach Moore assist with eight minutes left in the half as it looked like the Tigers were going to start a surge before the break. However, Marcus Crockam cleaned up a bad clear in front of the net and poked home his second goal of the season just two minutes later to pull the Colonels to within 2-1.
As the second half began, the contest began to get a little chippy between the district rivals with yellow cards issued to both teams. Hopkinsville scored in the 62nd minute when Greenwell scored his second goal of the contest. The Tiger goal put them ahead 3-1 and began a stretch that saw them scored three times in eight minutes to seal their sixth straight win over the Colonels.
Hermosillo scored four minutes later off a pass from Edward Acosta. Ryan Roussel added an unassisted tally in the 70th minute.
Settle had 11 saves for the Colonels, who were outshot 22-9 in the contest.
Both Christian County (4-5) and Hopkinsville (5-2) will play in the Boots and Butts Classic this weekend at the Stadium of Champions. Hopkinsville will play Campbell County Saturday at noon, while the Colonels will play Franklin County at 2pm.
