Greenwood, Bowling Green cruise into semifinals
By Perry Swack
Four teams remain in the 4th Region soccer tournament after quarterfinal matches commenced at Warren Central High School on Monday. On matchday #1, Todd County Central blanked Clinton County, 5-0, behind four goals from Melanie Chamberlaine. The senior attacker has scored 24 goals for the 13th District champions. Bowling Green followed suit with a 10-0 rout of Barren County. The Lady Purples rebounded from their heartbreaking district championship game loss to the tune of four goals from Zippi Willgruber and a brace from Katie Donelson. Junior Adelyn Drane assisted on three goals, while Reese Lowery and Reagan Wheeler added two assists apiece.
On matchday #2, history was made as Russellville won its first region tournament game in school history. Making their first-ever appearance in the event, the Lady Panthers made sure their journey did not end in the quarterfinals. Locked in a 1-1 match with Russell County in double overtime with penalties looming, Sayne Olivia controlled a bouncing ball just outside of the 18-yard box and fired home the game-winning goal. Olivia also assisted on the opening goal by Ja’eda Poindexter. Goalkeeper Chloe Penrod made nine saves, allowing only one goal.
The Lady Panthers will take on Greenwood, who scored four first-half goals to blank Warren East, 4-0, in the quarterfinals. Senior Ella Whittle scored two goals for the Lady Gators.
The 13th and 14th District went 4-0 in the quarterfinals with the semifinals set for Wednesday evening. Bowling Green and Todd County Central will begin the festivities at 5:30pm. It will be only the third meeting between the two schools. Bowling Green won 11-1 in 2020 and 10-0 in the 2022 region tournament. Russellville will continue its historic run against Greenwood at 7:30pm. The two schools have never met.
Dating back to at least 2000, the Lady Gators and Lady Purples have met in every 4th Region finale. From 2000 to 2009, GHS won seven region titles to BG’s three. In the following decade (2010-2019), Bowling Green won seven to Greenwood’s three. In the current decade, GHS won in 2020 and BG won in ‘21 and ‘22. With the “score” 12 to 11 in favor of BG, what will happen in ‘23?
The region finals are scheduled for Thursday evening at 6:00pm. Four of the five last region championship matches have been decided by one goal or less. Might we see another exciting affair this season?
