A scoreless 80 minutes of soccer Thursday evening at Colburn Stadium sent the Region 1 Championship game between Marshall County and Graves County into overtime. With five minutes on the clock and a golden goal to win it, Kelsey Crass scored in the closing seconds to send the Lady Marshals to their fifth consecutive state tournament appearance.
The win marks the 22nd Region 1 title in program history.
It was the first overtime game for the Lady Marshals this season but the third for the Lady Eagles, the previous two against Murray with wins in each.
“I’m really proud of the guts and the effort”, Head Coach Michael Boone said of his players, adding that Graves County had many potentially playing their last game. Referring to the nine seniors on the Lady Eagles squad.
Several Lady Marshals suffered from uncharacteristic cramps and other issues throughout the game which Boone said showed their mental toughness, something they have been working on throughout the season.
“They played hard”, Boone said. “We told the girls – we will not lose this game – and they believed.”
All Region Team selections for the Lady Marshals include Honorable Mention for Johnna Walker. Kallen Fuller, Abby Bevil, Chase Hill and Parker Perry named to the Second Team. First Team honors went to Kelsey Crass and Mia Teague.
Graves County’s Ellie Carter was named Region 1 Player of the Year.
They will have the opportunity to potentially host the first two rounds of the state tournament starting with Henderson County on Monday or Tuesday. The Lady Colonels beat Madisonville-North Hopkins 6-4 in Thursday’s Region 2 final.
With a record of 21-3, the Lady Marshals have out-scored their opponents 89 to 11. Henderson County comes into next week’s game 16-6.
Their last four appearances in the first round of the KHSAA State Soccer Tournament have resulted in losses by just one goal. In 2018 against Henderson County, they lost 1-0 in a game that went to overtime and PK’s.
