North stomps Henderson

Friday, October 17, 2008

MORGANFIELD — For the first time in at least 10 years, the Madisonville-North Hopkins girls’ soccer team defeated the Henderson County Lady Colonels in the Fifth District Tournament and did it in sound fashion Thursday night.

North broke an eight-game postseason losing streak to Henderson, and after leading just 2-1 at halftime, the Lady Maroons appeared locked in another close game, but a great second-half effort put the game on ice in already chilly conditions as North won 6-1.

KHSAA online records are not available before the 2000 postseason, but in each season since, Henderson County has beaten North during the district tournament.

“It feels – words can’t even describe what the feeling is,” senior Heidi Clayton said of beating the Lady Colonels. “Finally beating Henderson in district and winning the district, it’s just a really great feeling.”

For six-year coach Steve Shepard it was his first postseason win against the Lady Colonels as well

“It’s a six-year monkey off our back and Henderson, they’ve ruled it,” he said. “This is the sixth game we’ve played against Henderson since I’ve been coaching. I don’t even know – it hasn’t even hit me yet. After the fourth goal, I knew it was our game.”

The Lady Maroons scored four second-half goals to put the game out of reach, led by junior Laura Rao’s three scores.

Rao scored twice via penalty kick and added another to pace North.

Ten minutes into the second half, Rao scored her first goal to put the Lady Maroons up 3-1. Mason Howard scored North’s next goal eight minutes later to put the team ahead three goals.

Midway through the final half, a Lady Colonel clipped Heidi Clayton inside the box as she fell to the ground. Junior Laura Rao took the penalty kick for Clayton. Rao sized up the goalie and shot left as the keeper seemed to freeze in place.

Six minutes later Rao converted on another penalty kick opportunity to put North ahead 6-1, the eventual final score.

“The girls deserve everything,” Shepard said. “I don’t take any of the credit. They stepped up and fought through the fouls.”

Clayton said the team never gave up, even when the goals began to come so readily in the second half.

“We emphasized at halftime, this is not over,” she said. “It’s back to zero-zero. We have to play just as hard as we did coming out. It’s not going to get any easier and we definitely maintained our intensity.”

By game’s end, four different Lady Maroon players scored in the victory.

“I’m so thankful to have so many girls that can contribute to the scoring,” Clayton said. “We didn’t have to worry about just two people scoring, we had four different people scoring.”

After the game, each of the North players donned T-shirts that said “Lady Maroon Soccer” on the front and “2008 District Champions” across the back.

During the first half of play, junior Lyndi Tedder dominated the game.

“Lyndi Tedder was just on fire,” Shepard said. “She won everything. She ruled the midfield.”

In the 12th minute of play, Tedder corralled a ball that bounced around in front of the goal. Tedder worked past a couple of defenders, including one who fell down. That gave her an opportunity to turn and shoot, scoring on the left side.

“I just came to play tonight,” Tedder said of her aggressive performance. “I left it all out there. One of my teammates told me to leave it all out on the field, so whether you win or lose, you know you gave it your all.”

North’s lead would not last for long though because the Lady Colonels reclaimed the momentum four minutes later when Henderson evened the game.

The Lady Maroons tried to clear the ball in front of their goal, but a weak kick found an open Lady Colonel freshman Morgan Graves, who fired the ball from 25 yards out. Graves’ shot went over the head of keeper Troyanna Hardy to tie the game at 1-1.

Neither team found the back of the net until another 20 minutes passed. In the 33rd minute, Tedder notched her second goal when she collected a pass right in front of the goal, turned and sent it past Henderson’s goalie.

“Lyndi stepped up the scoring in the first half,” Rao said. “That was huge. It really opened the gates to the second half and we just poured it on them.”

The goal gave North a 2-1 lead and it stuck until halftime.

The Lady Maroons will continue play in the Third Region against Ohio County next week.

After the game Lady Maroon players Clayton, Rao, Tedder, Troyanna Hardy, Meagan Hutchens, Carli Whittington and Ellen Whittington were named to the All-District team.

Hopkins County Central’s Amber Coakley, Kasey Long and Tavia Young were also named.

Mary Rachel Hobgood, Morgan Major and Ashely Smith represented Webster County.