MURRAY – For the past seven years, Marshall County has advanced to the boy’s district tournament championship game, but this year the Calloway County Lakers would stop that streak in their 3-1 semi-final win over the Marshals and for the first time in Marshall County soccer program history, there will be no Marshall County team in either the boys or girls district championship.
Calloway County beat Marshall County by a score of 3-2 in both of their regular season meetings and the Marshals were hoping that the third time was not a charm, much like the Lady Eagles win over the Lady Marshals in the earlier game. The win also marked the only season in program history that Calloway County swept the Marshals who finished the season 10-9-1.
“They’re a good team, they’ve been a good team all year-long”, Coach Andy Pagel said. “They had all the answers for us tonight and they get to move on and have a good shot to win the region.”
Both teams were scoreless until the 37th minute of the first half when Dawson Jolley put the Marshals on the board, his 21st goal of the season, on an assist by Daniel Gardner.
Less than two minutes later, a foul on the Marshals in the box gave the Lakers a penalty kick which was taken by Ty Davenport to tie the game at 1-1 in an evenly played first half.
Halfway through the second half Brian Wilhelm put the Lakers on top 2-1, then delivered another goal on a penalty kick with just four and half minutes remaining for the win.
Reflecting back on the season, Coach Pagel said, “We had a tough back stretch to the season. We battled through a lot of injuries and I think those kind of wore on us a bit.”
Five seniors played their final game Wednesday and Pagel said having had them in class as well as a part of the soccer program that they were all class act kids.
“They’re moving on and are going to do great things”, Pagel said. “I’m going to tell them in the locker room before we leave, enjoy these years you had with us but don’t let them be your pinnacle. Take what you’ve learned and use that to be better people.”
