5th Region Soccer Previews
It looks like the Bruins and Panthers for Round four!
The Elizabethtown Panthers have been unstoppable all season (18-2-2) and despite the loss of Jansen Wilson have scored more goals (102) and allowed fewer (23) than any other team in the 5th Region. The only team to upset head coach Corey Yates’ team’s balance this season has been one team. So with the Region Tournament starting this Monday at John Hardin, the Panthers will begin their journey facing Bardstown at 6:00 and they will then the winner will face Taylor County in the second round Wednesday at 6:00. On the other hand, the Central Hardin Bruins have been a study in being constant and they too have weathered change losing most of their scoring from last season, but head coach Justin Maddock has found the right parts to fill in the puzzle and are once again posed to make a run at the Region Championship. Since 2010, the Bruins have been in every Region final other than the 2011 final (Bethlehem and Nelson County were the representatives) and have been the only team to figure out the Panther puzzle so far. The Bruins will start play Wednesday awaiting the winner of the Nelson County and Hart County game Monday. It would be foolish to assume Central Hardin and Elizabethtown will not face off once more and with the history the last two seasons of the two teams it should be a good one if so because the teams are even (3-3) in their last six meetings, but the Bruins are 2-0 in playoff games. Maddock has said before that he has just continued the success that Michael Wiersema started during his successful run as the kids keep finding ways to win regardless of who is in the lineup. Yates, who knows a little about a winning attitude and history playing at Elizabethtown and being a part of Region Final teams himself would like to restart that for his team. The 5th Region Final is slated for Thursday at 7:00 at John Hardin.
Lady Banshees go for the 4-Peat!
Not since Elizabethtown’s dominance during their run in Girls 5th Region Soccer have we seen what Bethlehem has accomplished the last several seasons. Since winning their first Region Final EVER in 2015 and making a Final Four appearance have the Lady Banshees hit the ground running winning the last three Region Titles and despite losing some defensive strength and a mild hiccup to start the season (2-2 start including a 9-2 loss to DuPont Manuel) has head coach Danny Rossell’s team showed any signs of even remotely being mortal. This season, Bethlehem has been dinged a bit with Abigail Proctor, Jordan Cross and others suffering the effects of four very long seasons, others have stepped up as the Lady Banshees have scored the most goals (124) and begin their Region playoff run Sunday against Taylor County at Thomas Nelson with a chance to advance and play the other team which is noted for Region success. The Elizabethtown Lady Panthers have scored the second most goals and allowed the fewest goals (16) in the Region and despite winning the District again will most likely have to stop the Lady Banshees run if they are to advance themselves this Tuesday. On the other side, Central Hardin simply cannot get a break. Two years ago, they were slated to face defending Region champ Bethlehem in the first round and last year ran into them in the second round. This time they are slotted against the other really good team in the Bardstown area. The Lady Tigers are the only team in the Region to beat both Elizabethtown and Central Hardin this season and head coach Martin Bodkin has done an excellent job replacing so many starters and scoring that graduated after last season’s Region Finalist. The winner of that 4:00 game Sunday will face LaRue County Tuesday with a chance to play for the championship Thursday at 7:00. History could be made that day one way or another.
