Caldwell County’s Weston Phelps has been Mr. Hopkins Central this season for the Tigers.
The junior had a hand in all three goals on Monday as Caldwell blanked the Storm 3-0 in semifinal action in the 7th District tournament at Madisonville-North Hopkins.
The Tigers (7-11-2) will next face the top-seeded Maroons (16-3-2) in the district championship game Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in Madisonville.
Caldwell struck early to get a quick jump on Hopkins County Central on Monday.
Phelps headed home a crossing pass from Grayden Miller less than a minute into the contest to stake the Tigers to a 1-0 lead.
That’s where the score remained until the 55th minute, when Phelps sent a pass ahead to Blake Vivrette, who scored to put Caldwell up 2-0.
Phelps then scored unassisted from inside the box in the 65th minute to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
The Tigers outshot the Storm 15-10.
Corbin Nichols recorded six saves in the Caldwell net while recording the shutout.
It was the second 3-0 win over Hopkins Central for the Tigers this season. Phelps had a pair of goals on Sept. 14 as Caldwell shut out the Storm in Princeton.
With Monday’s win, Caldwell not only advances to the district final but earns a berth in the 2nd Region tournament next week at the Stadium of Champions in Hopkinsville.
It will be the Tigers’ first appearance in the regional since 2017. Caldwell fell to Hopkins Central in the district semifinals each of the past three seasons.
