The University Heights Academy Lady Blazers are headed back to the 2nd Region All A soccer semifinals. After having their season opener Saturday canceled due to weather, the Lady Blazers used a pair of goals from sophomore Audrey Grise and a stifling defensive effort to advance past Caldwell County 4-0 Monday evening at Givens Field.
Grise got things started early for the Lady Blazers finding a loose ball right in front of the net following a corner kick and putting it past the Caldwell County keeper just two minutes into the match to give UHA a 1-0 lead. Grise would strike again at the 22:00 mark, taking a pass from Piper Hancock, getting past the goalie to the left post, and pushing it in with her left foot to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Lady Blazers found the net one more time in the opening half. At the 32:00 mark, sophomore Riley Bailey was chasing after a pass coming down the right-hand side, when Caldwell goalie Abbey Gill made a play on the ball. Bailey was able to get to the ball first and then found the empty net to push the lead out to 3-0 at the half.
In addition to the goals scored by the Lady Blazers in the first half, UHA’s defense was able to control the middle of the field, limiting the Lady Tigers to just three shots in the opening half of play.
UHA was able to seal the win just before the midway point of the second half. Freshman Edie Adams put one in from right in front of the net at 55:00 to push the lead on out to 4-0.
While the Lady Tigers held their own most of the night in the middle of the field, they just could not find the scoring opportunities to make a run at the Lady Blazers. For the night, UHA outshot Caldwell County 17-6.
UHA moves to 1-0 on the season and will be right back in action Tuesday night as they host Lyon County in the semifinals of the All A regional.
Caldwell County drops to 1-2 on the season. They are now set to travel to Crittenden County Thursday night if the Lady Rockets are not playing in Thursday night’s All A regional final.
