Late goal lifts North Knox girls to sectional win

  • Home
  • Late goal lifts North Knox girls to sectional win

Late goal lifts North Knox girls to sectional win

Photo by TRAVIS DAVID | North Knox players (from left) Serenah Wampler, Ava Kelm and Jenna DeCoursey race off the field to celebrate with the rest of their teammates following Tuesday's sectional win over Bloomfield.
BY TRAVIS DAVID
[email protected]

 

SULLIVAN — It’s no secret that underclassmen have fueled the North Knox girls soccer team this season. 

 

But that doesn’t mean they would turn down a helping hand of a senior.

 

Or her left foot.

 

Lili Phegley picked the perfect time to net her first goal of the season on Tuesday. The Lady Warrior senior knocked in what turned out to be the game-winning goal, sending her team to a thrilling 3-2 win over Bloomfield in the opening match of the Class 1A Sullivan Sectional.

 

“It felt great,” the senior said of her game-winner. “That one was a really big goal … it was just a kick in. She (keeper) dove and it went right under her.”

 

The goal broke a 2-all tie in the 73rd minute and was set up by another senior.

 

Hadley Williams came up with a steal just inside the right side of the 18 and sent a centering pass towards sophomore Kambric Rode — the Warriors’ leading scorer on the season. The pass glanced ever-so-slightly off Rode while Phegley was crashing towards the net from the left side. Phegley gained control of the ball and sent a low, easy shot towards the right corner of the net.

 

A celebration ensued.

 

“It definitely could not have come at a better time,” Warriors’ coach Eric Elkins said of Phegley. “She’s left-footed so I like putting her over on that left side. She hasn’t played as many minutes as she has in the past but she works hard and that paid off tonight.”

 

Photo by TRAVIS DAVID |
North Knox senior Lili Phegley gains possession of the ball against a Bloomfield defender. Phegley scored the game-winning goal in the sectional win.

 

Bloomfield had tied the match 12 minutes earlier. But the Warriors quickly flipped the momentum back on their side by getting back on the attack.

 

A pair of shots on goal by sophomore Audrey Wortsel and two more from junior Leslie Kaetzel preceded Phegley’s goal.

 

“I felt like we got shots that we wanted throughout most of the match,” Elkins said of the Warriors’ attack. “So, yes, I felt good about being able to get another (goal) after they tied it.”

 

After Phegley’s go-ahead goal, Bloomfield never had a serious offensive attack over the final seven minutes of the match.

 

Freshman CarrieAnn Myers gave the Warriors a 1-0 lead in the 27th. Wortsell assisted on the play, sending a crossing pass through the right side of the box for the freshman to tap in from point-blank range. It was her third goal of the season.

 

Bloomfield answered back with a goal five minutes later when Taylor Hudson lofted a high-arcing shot towards the net from 30 yards out. The ball snuck just underneath the crossbar for the equalizer.

 

It was the first and only shot on goal of the first half of the Cards.

 

The score remained tied at intermission.

 

But it didn’t stay that way for long.

 

After hitting the post early in the first half on a 1v1, Rode didn’t miss her opportunity to start the final 40 minutes. The sophomore dribbled the ball inside the 18 on the right side of the box and sent a low snipe through the left side of the net for a 2-1 lead.

 

Although the Warriors only found the back of the net on three of 11, unofficial, shots on goal, Elkins liked the way his team was in control of the match.

 

Photo by TRAVIS DAVID |
North Knox’s Leslie Kaetzel sends a free kick towards the net during Tuesday’s sectional win over Bloomfield.

 

“I was worried, but then again I wasn’t really worried,” the Warriors’ coach said of some missed opportunities in both halves. “With as well as we were playing, I thought that we could get another (goal). We were getting looks the whole game. 

“Everyone played great tonight.”

 

Alyssa Chattin made just two saves in the win between the posts put also scooped up numerous loose balls to end Cardinal attacks. 

 

Up next for the Warriors will be No. 13 ranked White River Valley. The undefeated Wolverines — who blanked the Warriors 8-0 in the regular season —  received a first-round bye.

 

“They are obviously a really good team,” Elkins said of the Wolverines. “Their coach has done a great job with that program. They have come a long way in the last three, four, five years. But someone has to beat them, so why can’t it be us.”

 

The sectional semifinal will be Thursday, at approximately 7 p.m.

 

The host Lady Arrows and Vincennes Rivet play in the first semifinal at 5 p.m.

 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Verified by MonsterInsights