The winner will advance to tomorrow evening’s 10th Region Championship game

 

IVAN K. RICE I doctorofsports@aol.com

 

CYNTHIANA KY – Tonight in Cynthiana, Coach Andrew Steele’s Bourbon County Lady Colonels soccer team will play in the semifinal round of the girls’ 10th Region Tournament against traditional powerhouse and defending champion Campbell County (13-7-2), who knocked out host Harrison County 6-0 on Monday evening in the elite eight.

Bourbon, with an already very impressive resume so far this season, is looking to add to those accomplishments when they take on a Lady Camels team that started their year by losing four out of their first six games. They would get things together to win nine in a row before slowing up at the end of their regular season, where they won one, lost three, and tied two but against some very quality opponents. Bourbon on the other hand, hasn’t suffered a defeat since losing in the final four at the Kentucky 2A Soccer Championship State Tournament. They will enter tonight’s contest on a 7-game win streak.

Heading into tonight’s game, Coach Steele said that he believes his team is pretty collected and ready. “Like I told these ladies a few weeks ago, we have opened a lot of new doors this season and there’s not another group that I would rather cross that threshold to enter new territory with. Once we got through the draw, we were able to see what we were up against because I know we have some solid competition from up north. We will just have to see who holds the cards when that final whistle is blown!”

Bourbon, although a very talented squad, will be led by senior Audra Steen, and sophomore Samantha Wells. Steen leads the team with 27 goals and 9 assists. Wells has scored 22 goals and dished out a team-high 13 assists. Other notable players are freshman Alana Walker (8 goals, 4 assists), senior Tayla Tobin (5 goals, 2 assists), freshman Maddy Bezeau (4 goals, 3 assists), and sophomore Brooke Goebel (2 goals, 4 assists). Senior goalkeeper Briley Hudnall, with 51 saves, allows 0.8 goals per game, with 10 shutouts, which is 12th best in the entire state.

Coach Dave Morris’ Lady Camels will be led by senior sisters Kennedy Crowley (15 goals scored, 9 assists), and Caitlin Crowley (12 goals, 7 assists). Others that can’t be overlooked are junior Allison McKee (6 goals, 1 assist), sophomore Hailey Roomes (5 goals, 8 assists), and senior Taylor Maley (5 goals, 1 assist). Senior Allison Tiemeier and junior Meryem Gonulates scored 2 goals each, while both have delivered 4 assists. The Camels have used three different seniors in the goalie position with Morgan Roomes leading the way with 58 saves. Abi Medaugh has 27 saves, and Abigail Maszor with 20 saves.

It was 2018 when Bourbon and Campbell last played, with the Lady Camels coming out on top 5-0. The last time the Lady Colonels won a match at the region tournament, one would have to go back to October 16, 2016, when they defeated Bishop Brossart at Harrison County, which is the sight of tonight’s semi-final game that will start at 7:30.

Hope to see you later on today in Cynthiana showing your support for Coach Steele, his staff and the Lady Colonels.

****

On Monday night, in game two, the Montgomery County Lady Indians (10-8-4) ousted the Mason County Lady Royals (8-9) by the score of 2-1 to advance to this evening’s first semifinal game against top seed, and the state’s 6th ranked team, Bishop Brossart (18-2-3). The game time is 5:30.

The two semifinal winners (Brossart/Montgomery & Bourbon/Campbell) will play for the championship tomorrow night in Harrison County with the winner advancing to the UK Healthcare KHSAA State Soccer Tournament where they will face the champion out of the tough 11th Region (No. 7 Lexington Catholic/No. 8 Paul Laurence Dunbar/ No. 16 Federick Douglass/ No. 19 Henry Clay).

 

ALL PHOTOS TAKEN BY KRISTA BARNETT!