The UHA Lady Blazers are now one step away from returning to the 2nd Region girls soccer championship game for the first time since 2015. In cold, wet conditions, UHA controlled the match from the very start and rolled past Webster County 11-1 Monday night at the Stadium of Champions in the opening game of the region tournament.
It was another big night for Lady Blazer senior Lilly Strader. Strader scored two goals in the first half and four goals in the 2nd half on her way to a six goal night.
While Strader had the six goal night, it was Kate Cansler who got things going for UHA in the first half. Cansler scored on a shot that deflected off the goalie’s hand at the 10:30 mark to put the Lady Blazers up 1-0. About 18 minutes later, Strader guided one off the inside of the goalpost to extend the lead out to 2-0.
Strader scored again at 37:55 to push the margin out to 3-0. Just over a minute later, Strader had another shot, this one missed, but Sarah Covington was there to put in the rebound to give UHA a 4-0 lead at the half.
The Lady Trojans looked like they might seize some momentum early in the 2nd half. Webster County found the net at the 45:00 mark to cut the lead to 4-1. That momentum would end up being very short lived.
Lilly Strader scored goals at 50:00, 60:00, and 62:40 to grab the momentum firmly back and make it a 7-1 game. One of the highlight moments of the night for UHA came less than 2 minutes later, when goalie Lainey Burman scored on a penalty kick to push the lead to 8-1.
Kate Cansler scored her second goal of the night at 67:15 to make it 9-1. Grace Pape hooked in a corner kick at 70:10 to move it out to 10-1. Appropriately enough, it was Lilly Strader who scored on a penalty kick to end the match at 74:40.
The win, which is UHA’s 4th in their last five matches, moves the Lady Blazers to 12-6, and on to Wednesday night’s first regional semifinal match. UHA will take on Caldwell County, who defeated Lyon County Monday night 11-1, at 5:30pm at the Stadium of Champions.
