Gabby Powers (17) of Hardin Valley dribbles past Oak Ridge defenders shortly before scoring the first goal of the game for either team in a 2-0 win over Oak Ridge on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. Also pictured are Lady Wildcats Leah Scudder (22), Ellie Brown (8), Macy Barclay (4), and Katie Welsh (5). At left is Macey Lindsey (10) of Hardin Valley. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Note: This story was last updated at 1:15 a.m.
HARDIN VALLEY—Hardin Valley eliminated Oak Ridge from this year’s playoffs in a 2-0 win over the Lady Wildcats in a Region 2 semifinal game at Hardin Valley on Tuesday.
Neither team scored in the first half.
Early in the second half, Gabby Powers of Hardin Valley buried a long, high shot from about 27 yards out to give the Lady Hawks a 1-0 lead with about 33 minutes remaining. That shot from near the right sideline sailed over the outstretched hands of Oak Ridge senior goalkeeper Jasmine Rizk at the right side of the net (Rizk’s left).
Paige Hewitt added a second, final goal for Hardin Valley on a penalty kick from 12 yards out with about six minutes left, booting it into the left side of the net past a diving Rizk.
Despite the loss, Oak Ridge Coach Jeff Trombly said the Lady Wildcats played their best game of the year.
Hardin Valley is a really good team, Trombly said, and Oak Ridge (13-5, 4-1 District 3-AAA) wasn’t able to counterattack effectively. The girls also came up short in terms of scoring goals, he said.
But, he added, “That’s the best we played all year.”
Hardin Valley Coach Mark Patterson said Oak Ridge was well-organized and “hard to break down.” The Lady Hawks (14-3-2, 5-1-1 District 4-AAA) had shots from a distance in the first half, but had trouble getting into the last third of the field.
“We had to work for it,” Patterson said after the Region 2-AAA semifinal win. “That was a tough one.”
The goal by Powers helped the Lady Hawks relax, he said.
“That was a great strike,” Patterson said.
He said Hardin Valley was able to create more chances in the second half after that first goal.
The Lady Hawks outshot the Lady Wildcats 16-1. Hardin Valley had seven or eight shots in the first half, while Oak Ridge didn’t have its first until there were 17 minutes left in the game. That was from sophomore Zoe Van Hook.
Hewitt had seven shots and Powers had four. The last time the two teams played, a 4-1 win for Hardin Valley on September 23, those two Lady Hawks combined for 10 shots and three goals. Hewitt had five shots and two goals in that game, and Powers had five shots and one goal.
Hardin Valley will play Maryville (15-5-2, 4-3 District 4-AAA) for the region championship on Thursday. The Lady Rebels beat Powell (10-5-3, 5-0 District 3-AAA) by 3-0 in the other Region 2 semifinal game on Tuesday.
Hardin Valley and Maryville will advance to state sectionals on Saturday. The two teams have already met twice this year. Hardin Valley beat Maryville 3-0 on September 15, and the Lady Hawks beat the Lady Rebels again in the District 4-AAA championship on October 15, wining that game 1-0.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Gabby Powers (17) of Hardin Valley scored the first goal of the game from about 27 yards out with roughly 33 minutes remaining in the second half. Powers is defended here by Olivia Hoyt (18) of Oak Ridge. Also pictured are Lady Wildcats Macy Barclay (4) and Nancy Pont-Briant (9). (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Oak Ridge senior Macy Barclay (4) rushes toward the soccer ball during a 2-0 loss to Hardin Valley during a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at Hardin Valley on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
Paige Hewitt (14) of Hardin Valley aims left on a penalty kick that gave the Lady Hawks a 2-0 lead over Oak Ridge with about six minutes remaining in a Region 2-AAA semifinal game at Hardin Valley on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)
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