A 3-0 shut out over Calloway County in Wednesday’s 2nd District soccer semi-final will match the Lady Marshals up against Graves County in Thursday’s championship game and a chance to win back to back district tournament titles.
Carmen Gunn scored the first goal 15 minutes in on an assist by Kat Howard. Calloway County had an opportunity to tie but Carlen Whirley came up with a big save, the ball bounced back out and Elle Carson just missed off the crossbar.
Eight minutes into the second half, a goal by Kylee Crass put the Lady Marshals up 2-0 and she followed that up with her second goal of the game with twelve minutes left on the clock.
Whirley had two saves in the shut out and the Lady Marshals backfield allowed just three shots, two on goal and two corners. The Lady Marshals took 15 shots, 12 on goal and had three corners. Calloway County ends their season with a record of 9-9-1.
“Calloway is a solid team and we knew it was going to be close”, Coach Michael Boone said. “Defensively we did a great job containing Zoe (Stom) and Elle (Carson) especially and Kirsten (Houston) and didn’t give them a whole lot of looks. Elle had the one look at the end and Carly with the “hands of steel” to stop the ball.”
Boone said with Gunn not as effective the last time against Calloway County, they switched her wide and then she got the first goal saying “just how we drew it up” and he was happy with the solid work of his backfield in holding Calloway County to three shots and two on goal.
Boone on their championship game Thursday against Graves County said,”Graves is solid…last night looked very good against Murray, especially the second half. I thought Ellie Carter was playing a completely different level last night. Our one to one defending is going to have to be really good. I trust our defensive shape and our attack is much better than it was. Our personnel is complete…we’re not 100 percent healthy…but everybody is able to play.” Something they didn’t have in their 2-1 loss to the Lady Eagles after defeating them 6-1 earlier in the season.
Both the Lady Marshals and Marshals will play in Thursday’s 2nd District Championship games. The girls will play Graves County at 5:30 followed by the boy’s game against Calloway County who defeated Graves County 6-0 in Wednesday’s semi-final.
