If you don’t allow the other team to score, things usually go pretty well, no matter the sport. The University Heights Academy Blazers used smothering defense to lead the way as they blanked the Lyon County Lady Lyons 1-0 to advance to the girls’ soccer 2nd Region All A Championship match.
The Lady Blazers limited the Lady Lyons to three first-half shots, and thirteen for the match, while the UHA offense came up with 25 shot attempts of its own.
The match was a defensive battle from the very beginning, with legitimate scoring chances being few and far between.
The Lady Lyons had a big chance to take the early lead in the match. At 9:30, the Lady Blazers were called for a hand ball in the box. Lyon County’s Leah Schroeder took the penalty kick, but the shot bounced hard off the left leg of the goal and UHA controlled the rebound.
The miss seemed to knock the Lady Lyons off stride for the remainder of the half, as they would not get another shot on goal until the second half of the match.
UHA made Lady Lyons pay for the missed opportunity less than ten minutes later. Audrey Grise scored her third goal of the season when she took a pass from Addi Fourqurean and found the net to give the Lady Blazers the 1-0 lead at the 19:30 mark.
The Lady Lyons, who had scored 19 goals in their first three matches, could not find a way to break through the Lady Blazers’ defense in the second half. They would have a couple of close in attempts but just could not get the ball in the net. The Lyon County defense, other than the one scoring play, was just as solid as the Lady Blazers’ defense, allowing very few opportunities in the second half of play.
UHA improves to 2-0 on the season with their second consecutive shutout. They will move on to Thursday night’s regional championship game where they will host Crittenden County.
Lyon County falls to 2-1-1. The Lady Lyons are set to return to action Thursday evening on the road at Union County.
