Sunday, September 21, 2008
The 2008 Lady Donley Invitational had a little something for everyone — blowouts, bouncebacks and two games that came down to penalty kicks to decide a winner.
In the end, Madisonville-North Hopkins emerged with two victories, while Hopkins County Central split their two contests on the night.
The Lady Maroons defeated Christian County 10-0 in their first contest, with Heidi Clayton notching five goals — including her 100th career score — and needed penalties to take out Calloway County, 2-1.
The Lady Storm allowed two second half goals to Calloway County in their opening game, falling 2-1, but rebounded to defeat Christian County in penalty kicks in the final game of the invitational, 2-1.
Most of the excitement came in the final two games of the night, where both local schools needed penalty kicks to seal their victories. A goal from Laura Rao staked the Lady Maroons to a 1-0 halftime lead over the Lady Lakers despite a lackluster performance as a whole, but North allowed Calloway’s Shauna Wicker to notch an equalizing goal early in the second half.
The two teams then went to penalty kicks, with Clayton, Rao, Ellen Whittington and McKinsey Durham converting their opportunities. Keeper Troyana Hardy allowed just one goal on three attempts to help lead North to victory.
In the final contest, Hannah Murphy scored for Central late in the first half, but the Lady Colonels’ Martessia Williams was able to tie the game less than two minutes into the second half.
Ellen French, Ellen Cox and Autum Jarvis converted their opportunities in the penalty kick session, but the Lady Colonels also notched scores on
three of their first five attempts.
Keeper Kacey Long stopped Emily Pool’s attempt to start the second set, then hammered home her shot to seal victory for the Lady Storm.
“It was very nerve-wracking,” Long said. “I’m just glad I came through.”
Long noted being a keeper herself helped her mentally when approaching the possible game-winning kick.
“I know exactly what (the goalkeeper’s) thinking and what she’s wanting,” she said.
Central coach Susan Phelps was very pleased with the way her team responded under pressure late in the contest.
“They hung in there,” she said. “We hadn’t practiced enough (penalty kicks), so it’s nerve wracking because they don’t do it during the season anymore.
“I was real proud of them.”
The Lady Maroons got off to a hot start in their opening contest, defeating Christian County 10-0 in a game notable for Clayton’s career achievement.
After the game, North coach Steve Shepard said the most important thing is the team won, but applauded Clayton’s accomplishment nonetheless.
“It’s not all about that, but if you can get 100 goals in a career, that’s impressive,” he said. “You have to work hard and be a good finisher and she is.”
Clayton said she knew she was close to the century mark entering the game and it feels good to accomplish the goal, but it wouldn’t be possible without her talented teammates.
“Without them giving me the passes to lead me to the goal, I wouldn’t be able to do it.”
After the special goal, Clayton’s achievement was announced to the crowd, who cheered in approval.
When asked if Clayton was embarrassed by the announcement she responded, “A little bit, I didn’t expect them to announce it.”
As the season continues, Clayton will be chasing North’s all-time goals leader, Laura Nance, at 116.
In addition to her five goals, Clayton had two assists.
Rao added three goals, as well, and Whittington and Christine Jungblom each had goals in the victory.
Rao and Whittington each had an assist to go along with their goals, and Durham chipped in with an assist late in the first half as North went ahead 9-0.
“When we’re on, it takes a good team to slow us down,” Shepard said.
It took the Lady Maroons just over two minutes in the second half to put the game away when Rao tallied her final goal at the 37:38 mark.
During the Lady Storm’s first game of the day, Central found itself locked in a tight defensive battle with Calloway County as both teams entered the second half tied 0-0.
Neither team scored until Lady Lakers’ senior forward Katlyn Barrow scored twice in a three-minute period midway though the second half to give Calloway a 2-0 lead.
Scoring opportunities were few for Central, but sophomore Brooke Daugherty erased the shutout with 13:25 left in the game when she scored on a breakaway goal.
The Lady Storm could not find the net again, however, as Central lost 2-1.
Clayton, Rao, Megan Hutchens and Lyndi Tedder made the All-Tournament Team for North, while Kacey Long and Amber Coakley were the representatives from Central.
The Lady Storm and Lady Maroons will meet up for their annual rivalry battle at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Donley Field.
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