Make it thirteen All-A regional titles in a row for the University Heights Academy Lady Blazers. Led by another stout performance from their defense, the Lady Blazers won the girls’ soccer 2nd Region All-A Classic by shutting out Crittenden County 3-0 Thursday evening at Givens Field.
The match marked the third straight shutout for the Lady Blazers to open the 2021 season, all of them coming in the All-A Classic. Led by Piper Hancock, Ava Colburn, and MaKenzie Young, UHA effectively built a barrier wall in front of the goal, allowing Crittenden County next to no opportunities to find the net.
While the defense was slamming the door on Crittenden County, the Lady Rockets must have felt at times like they were in an old-time shooting arcade. The Lady Blazers outshot the Lady Rockets for the night a stunning 46-3.
Despite the overwhelming shot advantage, the match was scoreless until the 32:20 mark when Audrey Grise had a shot deflect off the left post and the keeper’s hand and then go into the net to give UHA at 1-0 lead that would stand until the half.
The Lady Rockets missed a huge chance to change the flow of the match in the opening moments of the second half. Addyson Faughn came down the right side of the field and took aim at the goal. The shot deflected off the post and MaKenzie Young’s hand, and then sat just outside the goal line for what seemed like forever before the Lady Blazers were finally able to clear the area. That would be the only shot on goal that the Lady Rockets would get in the second half of play.
UHA extended the lead to 2-0 when Addy Fourqurean dropped a perfect pass to freshman Edie Adams, who found the net for her second career goal. The Lady Blazers added an insurance goal at the 79:00 mark when Anna Fourqurean drilled a shot from about twenty yards out on the right-hand side to make it 3-0.
The win improves UHA to 3-0 on the season and gives the Lady Blazers their 13th straight All-A regional crown. The last time the Lady Blazers failed to win the All-A regional was in 2008 when they were upended in a shootout by Lyon County.
UHA will now have to wait for the winner of the 1st Region All-A Classic, who the Lady Blazers will take on in the sectional round of the All-A state tournament. In the meantime, the Lady Blazers are set to return to action next Thursday night at McCracken County.
