For many years, no team has been a consistant winner in the 5th Region of Girls Soccer and just fallen short than the Bardstown Lady Tigers. Head coach Martin Bodkin has been a major reason that so many girls chose to play soccer and continue the steady improvement of Region success, but has been unable to finally celebrate in the winners circle in the end.
Bodkin has seen it all.
In 2017 and 2018, the Lady Tigers fell victim to the powerful Bethlehem Banshees in the Region Final and last season were unable to score against Central Hardin in the semi-finals of the Region Tournament.
This season, things were going to be different as Bardstown returned a great group of talented seniors and youngsters just waiting to take that next step thanks to a brutally tough schedule and the determination of Emma Livingston.
The senior forward was having a stellar year finally cracking the century mark in goals and looked forward to leading the purple to the promiseland.
After slipping by Central Hardin in the first round of the Region Tournament, the only thing standing in their way was an old nemesis in Bethlehem. Over the years, the Banshees had given Bardstown all kinds of nightmares, but since 2018, they had beaten them five straight times including a wild affair just a week ago in which both teams scored four times in the last three minutes to go to overtime in a game in which Bardstown eventually won, 4-3.
With the home field advantage on their side, the Lady Tigers immediately went to work.
Less than 17 minutes into the first half, Emma Livingston slipped past the defense and wasa ble to beat the goalie with a shot just past Bella Russell for a 1-0 lead. That really shouldn’t have been a surprise since the senior Striker had absolutely KILLED the Banshees the past two seasons and her tenth goal against them got things started.
The Bardstown defense was able to control Bethlehem’s offense keeping their dangerous scorers in check not allowing them the freedom to roam and create things in open spaces and for the second straight game, kept them out of the net in the first half.
Bodkin knew that one goal wasn’t going to be enough and just as the second half began, the Lady Tigers went out to add on to the lead. Perry Hagan shot through the Banshee’s deep zone and knocked in their second goal just 00:34 gone and bulged the lead to 2-0.
It appeared like Bardstown had everything in control as their defense continued to do a number on Bethlehem’s high powered offense in general and freshman Carlie Thurmond in particular until late in the game, when she shot one outside from about thirty feet out to make things close at 2-1 with 7:48 left.
After the crazy final minutes in the 19th District Championship, Botkin reminded his girls not to take anything for granted and they clamped down for the remaining minutes to finalize the win.
Still, it may have been the biggest moment in Bardstown Girls Soccer history, but afterwards during the celebration, Botkin refused to accept credit and continually gave thanks to his players and praise to the Banshees for their wonderful performance. Since taking over for Deena Currie in 2003, Botkin has been the elder statesman in the 5th Region Girls coaching tree and has helped train and coach against numerous great athletes over the past 18-years.
After getting the celebratory gatorade bath from his players, he took a moment to pause and reflect on the monumental moment before realizing the path is still open with the team’s first ever KHSAA State Tournament game against Sacred Heart that Saturday.
As the night came to an end, Botkin said that he challenged his girls that weekend because he feared they might have peaked after such a grueling schedule and they continued to surprise him, this season.
Hopefully for him, they have still a few more surprises in store.
