There are heartbreaking ways to see your season come to an end, and then there are “heart breaking” ways to see your season finish. You can ask the Todd County Central Lady Rebels soccer team about it.
The Lady Rebels ended up losing their 13th District semifinal match with Franklin Simpson 2-1 after falling in penalty kicks 4-3. But it was how the penalty kick round finished that will leave them asking “what if” for a good while to come. After playing for 90 minutes, including the two 5 minute sudden death periods, they found themselves tied with the Franklin Simpson Lady Wildcats at 1-1.
In the penalty kick round, both teams made their first shot. Todd Central appeared to take control when Itzel Salazar made their second shot and the Lady Wildcats sailed theirs high over the crossbar.
However, Franklin Simpson goalie Lexi Phillips came up with a huge stop on the next Lady Rebel shot. The Lady Wildcats would make theirs to even the penalty kicks at 2-2. Both teams would make their next shots to make it 3-3.
Then came the turning point of the entire night. Just as senior Jennifer Flores was stepping into her penalty kick, the head official blew his whistle, negating the try, which sailed pas the goalie into the net. Flores next attempt traveled above the crossbar. Franklin Simpson then turned to their goalie Lexi Phillips, who put the ball into the net and the Lady Wildcats into the championship game, at the same time ending the Lady Rebels abbreviated season.
The match had been tightly contested all evening. The Lady Rebels had the momentum early, keeping the Lady Wildcats back on their heels, but they could not convert that momentum into a goal, missing three early scoring opportunities.
After being held without a shot attempt for the first 11 ½ minutes, Franklin Simpson would get off six shots over the next 12 minutes, but did not find the net. The Lady Wildcats finally broke through at the 29:15 mark when Anna Walker scored a header off a corner kick from Kate Norwood to give Franklin Simpson the 1-0 lead.
Todd Central quickly responded when Madison Henderson scored at the 32:15 mark to even things up at 1-1.
The Lady Rebels controlled possession for much of the second half, outshooting the Lady Wildcats 15-9, but could not get the ball into the net. The second half ended without either team adding a goal, sending the match to the two “golden goal” sudden death overtime periods. Both of those 5 minute periods passed without either team ending the match, setting up the dramatic moments of the penalty kick round.
Todd County Central sees their COVID shortened season come to an end with a record of 5-8.
Franklin Simpson advances on to the championship game Thursday night, where they will face Logan County. The Lady Cougars rolled past Russellville 8-0 in Monday night’s first semifinal match.
