There’s no way to write a short story about the Bethlehem Banshees State Tournament run without writing the long story of where they came from, the unlimited potential of the past four seasons and the painful disappointments along the way and eventually the ultimate triumph. It’s really not just about one or two players, but an entire history which really starts about 2019 after the most successful group of seniors graduated and left quite a top-heavy list of expectations to live up to.
Life after the Fab Five
From rags to riches, the 2015 freshman class that populated the Bethlehem girls soccer team and not only surprised head coach Dan Rossell and the rest of the 5th Region, but may have put together one of the most impressive runs in the area during that time along with an impressive group of veteran players as they would not only win their first 5th Region title in grand style (a shootout against Elizabethtown), but would make the Final Four for the first time in the school’s history. All told, the Banshees would go 74-24-4 during their four-season run, winning four straight Region titles, not losing to a District or Region foe during that time and Abigail Proctor and Maddie Sparks would go down as two of the most dynamic clutch scorers in the Region’s history.
Their two Final Four appearances would not only add to the history but raise the bar for the next group coming up. The 2019 team was just as good, winning 16-games and reaching the Region Final for the fifth time in five seasons. Baeli Young stepped up and scored 36-times as did Ginny Spalding with 27-goals as Bethlehem lit up the scoreboard with 120-goals while goalkeeper Bella Russell had a great season in the Goal. Despite losing three times to Bardstown during the regular season and in the District Final, the Banshees matched up against Central Hardin in the Region Championship game and although they held a lead with five minutes to go, the Lady Bruins scored sending the game to overtime and eventually winning on Haylie Panter’s penalty kick. Although, their Region Title streak was snapped, there was plenty of reasons to look forward to 2020, but no one could have predicted the strange occurrences in the next several years that would happen to one of the most talented groups ever to grace a KY girls soccer team.
2020, a pandemic and a new beginning
If anyone would have predicted what would happen the following season after a very promising 2019, maybe a science fiction writer possibly. Rossell, last season had marveled at the performance of his baby Banshees and how they might be as good as the 2015-2018 group. Pretty high praise for a guy, who just finished making history with the last several teams. However, everything was in question as a pandemic which shutdown everything activity wise back in March, but now threatened to do the same during the Fall school sports season. Somehow, things settled down and the games began in September and began they did as the Banshees still put together a 12-win season despite losing a month of regular season play.
The fabulous freshman that Rossell bragged about were stepping up as freshman Carlie Thurmond (the cousin of Maddie Sparks) moved front and center and scored 34-times, while fellow freshman Ashlyn Miles had 13 and Ginny Spalding had 13 as well. Bella Russell and the defense composed of many of the younger Banshees like freshman Kensey Clayton, Presley Sparks, Hallie Hurst and Khloe Young were just getting started. The Banshees went into the District Tournament with plenty of momentum and lots of experience with Ella Blair, Lauren Debold, Anna O’Bryan and Lily Meredith as they once again faced off with Bardstown in the Championship game and what a game it was. After falling behind 2-0 thanks to the “Banshee killer” Emma Livingston, Bethlehem looked finished, but then something strange happened as two fouls late set up Ginny Spalding to tie the game at 2-2 with less than a minute to go.
Just like that, Bardstown put one in the net and the game looked over again. Just as fast, the baby Banshees showed a sign of things to come as Ashlyn Miles took off on a break away with seconds remaining in regulation and hit an off balance, cross field shot that tied things up again. Even though Bardstown eventually won the game in OT on a corner kick, it was without a doubt the most exciting District Final to date. After winning the first two games against Elizabethtown and Marion County, Bethlehem faced the Lady Tigers for the fourth time for a chance to go to state and despite a great defensive effort, the Banshees finally fell, 2-1 in their bid. There was a moment afterwards when Livingston was consoling Spalding as her senior season came to an end. It was a fine moment of sportsmanship. Even though the Banshees 2020 season was over, the Baby Banshees were just beginning.
23-Wins and a Great Beginning
So many of the Banshee soccer players are multi-sport athletes and although the turf girls didn’t get the trip to state, the basketball Banshees were coming off their most successful season EVER with an Elite Eight appearance. Now with that part of their season behind them, it was time for soccer season. The Banshees were wiser, faster and year older and came right out of the gate hitting the ground running as they compiled 23-wins (just one shy of the original 24 during their Final Four run in 2018). Bethlehem only lost once during the regular season and the defense had 12-shutouts behind new Goalkeeper Rebecca Lee.
While Thurmond was putting up crazy numbers (60-goals and 16-assists), teammate Ashlyn Miles wasn’t too far behind with 24-goals and 10-assists). Meanwhile, Ashlyn’s younger sister, Tessa wasn’t far behind with 28-goals and 31-assists. With Hallie Hurst (22-assists) and Presley Sparks (17-assists) getting the ball to the scorers, Bethlehem put 143-goals in the back of the net against one of the tougher schedules. This looked like one of the best Banshee teams on paper as they headed toward the playoffs. Even though Rossell didn’t substitute much on defense in pressure situations, Meredith, O’Bryan, Clayton, Sparks and Young were mentally tough enough to handle the pressure. A big win came on September 1st when Hurst scored the only goal in a 1-0 win over Bardstown. It was the team’s first over the Purple in three seasons. Many viewed the Banshees as the odds on favorite to represent the Region “IF” they could keep up the great play and get just a little luck.
An Injury and the “Blincoe Bomb”
So much of winning involves timing and just a little (coaches hate this word) luck. As far as that goes, the Banshees needed a little of the first and maybe a lot of the second, because sometimes being good isn’t good enough when the other team seems to get a few breaks. That’s something we will go into a little later. After beating up on Thomas Nelson in the first round of the District Tournament, the Banshees faced Bardstown once more and after exorcising some of the demons from the previous past two years, they felt confident going into the game.
However, late in the first half, Hallie Hurst went down and had to be helped off the field. No one knew it at the time, but her season was over and although the Banshees would survive the Final in a shootout win, no one was sure what to expect as the Region Tournament approached. While both the Banshees and Lady Tigers survived shootout wins in their Semi-Final matches, it was obvious that the final would be another Bardstown-Bethlehem affair and as usual, it would come down to the final minutes. In a back-and-forth affair, Sophia Sharp and Jaileyah Cotton put Bardstown on the Board and Thurmond and Ashlyn Miles countered as the score stood tied with 10:17 remaining. Tate Blincoe set up for a direct kick about 35-feet away.
Blincoe’s kick took off high and continued to gain altitude until it dropped near Rebecca Lee. At first. Lee looked to have a shot it deflecting it, but it just got past her for the go-ahead goal putting the Lady Tiger ahead to stay. The Banshees didn’t give up though and had one last shot, but the final score stood and it was Bardstown, who would go on to repeat as Region champs and would go on to upset Sacred Heart behind Cotton’s three goals in OT before falling to South Oldham. For the Banshees, it was a great start, but a bad ending. Hopefully, next season would be different as the “Six Pack” approached their junior season. However, as they were about to discover, it’s always something.
Another Great Start
With two seasons behind the “Six Pack”, the Banshees came into the new season with a positive attitude, lots of experience and a new coach. Dan Rossell stepped down after the 2021 season and Scott Deopere took over as the new Bethlehem soccer coach with plenty of ideas and a very talented team. Ironically, Deopere wasn’t the only new coach taking over a powerhouse team as Rob Zoeller took over the Elizabethtown girls soccer job after Pat Black retired.
Zoeller has a reputation for making good teams better and there was plenty of build up as the two teams were scheduled to meet September 5th at Bethlehem. Despite a back-and-forth affair as neither team was able to make much head way and was finally called at halftime because of a vicious downpour with a 0-0 score. Still, the Banshees were cruising right along as they compiled 16-wins despite playing one of the toughest schedules in the state. Thurmond added to her goal totals putting 23 in the back of the net, while teammate Ashlyn Miles had 19 and sister Tessa Miles contributed 13. New Goalkeeper Gracie Zutterman stepped right in for graduated Rebecca Lee and along with the defense had 11-shutouts. After winning the All “A” Classic, the District Tournament was awaiting them. Time to show the area what kind of the team they were again and get one more shot at playing in late October.
It’s Always Something
Before the Banshees were about to play Central Hardin in their semi-final Regional playoff game in 2021 @ Elizabethtown, I asked Dan Rossell if he felt that as talented as this team was if they kept failing to win the Region Tournament and play in state, if they wouldn’t be remembered as one of the best. He took a deep breath and kind of agreed with me that the farther you go, the better you are remembered. In fact, we both agreed that if the 2-1 score held up back at Central Hardin in 2019, Bethlehem probably wins seven straight Region titles instead of still looking for their fifth. It was in no way a smack in the face as he knew how hard the girls work, but fans always remember winners. Runners-up are just that. They also hate them too. Carly Beam once told me that she knew that they were good when “Nobody wanted us to win anymore.” Zoeller does, too as during a seven-year stretch as Elizabethtown, they were always the hunted. So, after winning the District Final over Bardstown, the Banshees ran right into Elizabethtown in the second round of the Region Tournament.
To the winner, a much easier chance to make a deep run in State as the bracket had just come out and most of the dominating teams like Lexington Catholic, South Oldham and Sacred Heart were in the opposite side meaning the winner of this game might make a possible State Final Appearance. Elizabethtown was surprised by Central Hardin in their District Final so an early meeting between these two powers was inevitable. Since the great shootout in 2015, the Banshees had won the last five meetings between the two and it was another opportunity for Bethlehem to add to it. For two first year coaches on different teams, the game was being played tighter than a high stakes poker game as neither team would give or get on either side of the ball.
With 23:34 left in the first half, the winds of chance blew in Elizabethtown’s favor as a direct kick bounced off four players, but landed right at the feet of Bella Yates, who caught Zutterman by surprise and scored the first goal of the game. Despite a tight defensive battle, the play stood and it proved to be a big one. Against a Lady Panther defense which gave up few scores, the first one came from the wrong side and the Banshees looked a little frustrated. That feeling would build as the first quarter continued. With 8:37 remaining in the first half, Carlie Thurmond, who was bottled up much of the game, finally broke free from her escort and speed towards the goal, but was unable to maintain her balance past the Goalkeeper.
Chance One was gone. Chance Two occurred when Thurmond’s direct kick was fielded by Hurst on the break and she buried one to tie the score. Or did she? Hurst was ruled offsides and the threat died as did their hopes. Elizabethtown added another goal in the second half and went on to win, 2-0. Elizabethtown would go on to beat Bardstown in the Region Final, beat Marshall County, Owensboro Catholic and West Jessamine in the Final Four of State to become the first girls 5th Region Team to reach the Final before losing to South Oldham, 5-0. For the Banshees, another postseason of “What If’s”, “Could have been’s” and “Might have Been.” After the Elizabethtown loss, Zutterman was so heartbroken, she was consoled by her father. Deopere answered questions afterwards with patience as he now knew the challenge and the disappointments this team has experienced the past three years. Meanwhile, as Thurmond and Ashlyn Miles accepted their All-Region player awards afterwards, the “Six Pack” and the rest of the team became a year older and their chances were running out.
2023 and a Team to Shout About
Coming into their senior season, everyone on Banshee’s soccer team knew that their chances were running out and this would be the year to do it. Coming into the regular season, the team looked a little different with defensive stalewarts like O’Bryan and Lily Meredith gone, but Deopere had began working in some younger players like Bailey Roby, Gracie Osborne, Mariela Lozano, Iris Padgett, Taylor Janes and Bailey Judd. The Banshees were 14-4-2 during the regular season and were getting scoring from 14-different players. Carlie Thurmond finished with 33-goals (becoming the team’s All Time Leading scorer) while dishing out 20-assists. Ashlyn Miles would finish up with 24-goals and Tessa Miles had 23 and 16-assists.
Bethlehem led the Region in scoring with 114-goals and the defense led by Zutterman, Clayton, Hurst, Young and Sparks only allowed just 24. The Banshees won the All “A” Classic again outscoring their opposition by the combined score of 13-0. All that meant plenty except the real season started October 3rd in the playoffs as the Banshees beat Thomas Nelson 14-0 in the semi-finals and then Bardstown 2-1 in the District Final. The Region Tournament awaited the team now at Marion County high school. It was the first time the 5th Region Girls Tourney would be played there and for the Bethlehem Banshees and one Scott Deopere, it was “Put Up or Shut Up Time.”
5th Region Tournament
The Central Hardin Lady Bruins were the Banshees first opponent and despite their epic slipup in 2019, Bethlehem has pretty much beaten them the past several times they had faced them, so the 4-0 win they put on coach Justin Maddock’s team probably wasn’t a surprise. Up next was the match they had looked forward to all season. The Elizabethtown Lady Panthers were the last roadblock for the Banshees and it wouldn’t be an easy one to get past none the least. Since Rob Zoeller had taken over in 2022, the Lady Panthers defense had been one nightmare for Carlie Thurmond after another. In three matchups, Bethlehem had been outscored 4-0 and Deopere knew that the best chance to squeeze out a win was play the percentages and maybe get a little lucky. One thing was for sure, if Elizabethtown scored first, they had the defense to make that one goal stand up. Whatever the case, that theory changed less then 00:17 gone from the game. Adelyn Inman took a pass and buried the first goal of the Championship game.
So just like that, the Banshees were in a hole and the crowd that arrived didn’t even have time to get settled down before Inman’s shot. The difference between regular season and playoffs is striking as strategy changes. Maybe a less experienced team like the Banshees would have caved in, but Bethlehem had yet to score yet and interestingly enough they were getting their chances. In their earlier regular season meeting in which the Lady Panthers won 2-0, the Banshees had several runouts, but simply didn’t convert. Nerves, defensive pressure can change a players focus. What the Banshees needed was a big play to change the momentum and with 19:29, they finally got it. Carlie Thurmond, who had been shutout by the Lady Panthers defense so far had missed an early drive, but this time, she sped past a defender and released a shot that finally found the right side of the net. For the first time, the Banshees had scored and suddenly you could feel a huge dark cloud released from the Bethlehem mind set.
That good feeling continued as just six minutes later, Thurmond authored another shot that Ashlyn Miles toed into the net past the Lady Panther Goalkeeper. For the first time, the Banshees had a lead over Elizabethtown and although there would be no more scoring, the Bethlehem defense had to hold strong against an talented and desperate Lady Panther attack. Deopere had the defense drop back and protect against a run. For the last 79:43 of regulation, Elizabethtown was held scoreless and it was so through that Zutterman was credited with just two saves. The Banshee defense also protected and prevented the Lady Panthers from attacking from the corners as they are so good at. Final score: Bethlehem 2 Elizabethtown 1. When the clock hit 00:00, Presley Sparks immediately grabbed Tessa Miles and began the celebration to end all celebrations and both she, Thurmond, Hurst and Kensey Clayton disappeared underneath a huge blue mosh pile.
The trophy ceremony lasted quite a while as the “Six Pack” and their teammates made up for lost time. Afterwards, Khloe Young gave credit to the defense for their magnificent stand and the backline that was held by Sparks and Clayton for the win. Deopere also made a remark about last year’s awkward conversation with the girls after the loss and how they stood up to the pressure. Still, there cannot be enough importance to Thurmond’s first goal as it may have really loosened up the team. Believing is just as important sometime as being talented. That would play a huge part for the team in just ten days.
State Tournament and Hosting a Game at Five Star
Because the seedings already had the 5th Region representative on the road against the 6th Region champ, Bethlehem knew they would be playing at Bullitt East Monday night at 7:00. This was not the same Bullitt East which beat up the Banshees in 2018 at Lally Field in the Sweet Sixteen though. The Lady Chargers were a surprise by knocking off Mercy in their Region final, so the Banshees knew to be ready for surprises. The only surprises were by Bethlehem as Carlie Thurmond had a hat trick, Ashlyn Miles, Tessa Miles and Mariela Lozano had one goal each and the defense was in shutout mode as Zutterman was credited with just two saves as Clayton, Young, Sparks and company weren’t about to let anything get past them.
Now, the Banshees were in the Elite Eight and would actually host the first State Tourney game at Five Star against an old friend Henderson County. In the past nine seasons, the Lady Colonels had reached the field of Eight three times and had faced Bethlehem in each setting with out a win. This time would be no different as the spirited crowd watched on as Ashlyn Miles had two goals, Hallie Hurst and Presley Sparks each had one and although the defense bent for the first time in state play, it meant that this Bethlehem team was about to travel into familiar territory as they had punched their ticket to their first Final Four in four years.
Final Four
Because the Banshees were about to play in their first (and the team’s third overall) Final Four against Boyle County, there was plenty to reflect on as they would have a 4:00 start in Lafayette high school in KY’s Final Four. The Lady Rebels had won with defense over Russell, Madison Central and West Jessamine and they tried getting rough with the Banshees as well.
Still, it didn’t stop the Bethlehem scoring machine as Ashlyn Miles and Bailey Robey got on the scoreboard early and finally Tessa Miles got in the second half as Bethlehem was about to make school history as they beat Boyle County and advanced to their first EVER State Championship game. “ This is what we worked for our entire Varsity career, losing to Bardstown the first two years, losing to E-Town in the semi-finals of the Region and finally becoming one of the last two teams standing. You want to play on 7:30 Saturday night because everybody’s going to be watching. I just feel like we were meant to be here, Saturday night.” said Clayton.
Saturday Night 7:30
The weather held up in Lexington so the 7:30 kickoff was under breezy conditions as both Sacred Heart and Bethlehem took the field for introductions. It was a showdown that would eventually stand the test of time. One that will be remembered as one of the best ever, however at first glance it didn’t seem like it. The Valkyries, owners of more State Titles in other sports besides soccer didn’t seem to belong on the same field as the Banshees as they came up the hard way beating South Oldham, Bowling Green and Notre Dame to get there. In fact, it did seem like a typical “David and Goliath” type matchup with very little suspense much like last year’s game between South Oldham and Elizabethtown.
As the game progressed, it was obvious that the Banshee defense seemed up to the task as they repelled several early advances by the Valkyries. Midway through the first half, the game took a strange rhythm as Carlie Thurmond, who had already been stopped once on a drive, took a pass from Tessa Miles and took off shooting straight and true for the first goal of the game. Thurmond’s shot helped loosen up the Banshees and she wasn’t finished as out raced the Valkyrie Goalkeeper on a runout and poked the ball into the net for her second score in less than three minutes. “I can’t believe this just happened.” Said Thurmond later on. Just like that, the Banshees were up 2-0 to everyone’s surprise.
As Bethlehem went to the locker-room with a 2-0 lead at the half, Deopere would have a big decision whether to drop back like they did against Elizabethtown or play them straight up. Either way it would eventually lead to the craziest second half in KY girls State Championship history.
Pressure Time
During the halftime period, no one wanted to talk about the 2-0 lead. Especially the Banshee players, fans or coaches as it’s a sure thing to force something bad in the end. Still, one of the biggest surprises in State Soccer history wasn’t without conversation. Both teams came out and it was obvious the Sacred Heart attackers definitely were woke up. If they thought the game was going to be an exercise in routine play they were badly fooled. The Valkyries began taking shots at the goal and each time the Banshee defense led by Gracie Zutterman pushed back.
Zutterman was credited with 10-saves and numerous deflections. However as the Valkyries kept bringing numbers off the bench one was sure to finally fall and with 27:22 left in the game, Sacred Heart got their first goal. Still, the Banshees played tough, but finally another shot got through with 5:38 left tying the score. Now, the question being what do you do? Play for overtime or come out of your half court defense? Sacred Heart made that question mote as another goal skimmed through and suddenly the Valkyries had their first lead of the game, 3-2 with 5:38 left.
Miles Missiles
With the score against them, this was the time when lesser teams fall apart and accept their fate. This was the time when they think “Hey! We had a great season and varsity career and move on accepting the Runner-up Trophy.” Not this Banshee team. When they write books or publish papers on why teams and athletes’ perform the way they do one must be written on this one because what happened in the final 4:55 is a classic case study in those theories. With time working against them, the Banshees didn’t set back. Instead they attacked. Ashlyn Miles, who was mostly forgotten in this game despite a great State Tourney showing chased down an errant pass and weaved through several Sacred Heart Defenders before hitting a shot that must have been heard from here to Bardstown. The ball shot past the Goalkeeper Ameerah Maamry and into the left corner of the net to tie the game at 3-3. Miles goal was the third scored in the past three minutes. Already one of the craziest in State Tourney history.
Ironically, it was Sacred Heart which was the last team to beat them during the regular season.
Now did the two teams play for OT of go for the win?
Tessa Miles settled that discussion. Over the past several seasons, younger Tessa had emerged as a scorer and out of the shadow cast by her older sister Ashlyn. Now, with the game on the line, Tessa stepped up front and center and ready to make history. With 1:54 left in the game, Miles retrieved a wild kick out towards the 25-yardline, planted and then shot towards the goal. From my vanish point, it appeared as if Maamary would be able to get a hand on it, but the ball took off and kept picking up altitude until it slipped past her gloved hand and into the net for the go-ahead-goal.
When the crowd erupted, Miles hit the deck as her score made it 4-3 with less than 1:40 left. As if the Championship game which had everything just added another chapter did so. As the stadium clock hit 00:00, Hallie Hurst grabbed Tessa Miles and began screaming. The entire team and Miles once again disappeared in a huge blue pile of calamity. From the Blincoe Bomb to THIS!!! Who would have believed it. The Bethlehem student section piled out on the field, but were retrieved so the team trophy ceremony could continue before the rains moved in. All of the Banshee goals came within three-minute periods of each other. The last four all told came within the past eight minutes.
Tessa Miles gave credit to her teammates and the fact that a small school like Bethlehem with about 150-girls could compete with the big girls. The Bethlehem Banshees became the first 5th Region Team (boys or girls) to win a Soccer State title. “We are nothing without the flair of the dramatic, I guess.” Said State Champion coach Scott Deopere. While the team accepted their awards, Carlie Thurmond was named MVP of the game tournament while she, Zutterman and Ashlyn Miles were also added to the All-Tournament team.
There were plenty of pictures afterward as everyone wanted a piece of the trophy on film. While I was taking some select photos, Kensey Clayton told me she was getting a weiner dog (dachshund). I though, that’s an interesting thing to say at this time, so we talked about the advantages of doxie care. A funny conversation during a very memorable moment. And then the rains came just in time for everyone to head home back to Bardstown happy and with some incredible memories. For a group of girls who had to weather so many disappointments despite such potential and high expectations, it truly was a story book ending.
The Morning After
Winning a State Championship in any sport can change you. It gives you a place in history. Still, there is a tomorrow. The night after the biggest event in her life, Khloe Young went to work just like anybody else and waited on her head coach. Several day afterwards, the Gilly Simpson was inundated by media requests for the team to appear on radio and TV news to celebrate their accomplishments.
The Kentucky Standard had a big one page story about the State Championship. The entire soccer team appeared on WDRB news at 7am Friday in celebration for their accomplishments. When the team prepared for their annual Powder Puff football game, the Seniors (in particular the Six Pack minus Hurst) made sure they went out winners in that too winning the game as Freshman, sophomores, juniors and finally seniors. I asked Thurmond if a spectacular interception, she had in the Championship game that night seemed anitclimatic compared to what she accomplished last Saturday night. Her response was “This was fun. that was buisness.” Presley Sparks still believes that it seems like a dream. “Everytime I wake up I think that then I go to school and see the trophy and I remember it happened.” Kensey Clayton was the spokeman for the team during the Friday news interview and later said “Maybe this hasn’t really hit us yet, because we were always taught to reflect of team and not individual awards. But when we’re older and have kids so we can rub it in their faces.” Three of the girls are getting ready for Basketball practice ( the basketball Banshees are three-time Region champs) and several others are moving on with their academics until Track and Field. Even winners have little time off.
The Best Way to Go Out
I remember once having a conversation with Central Hardin soccer player Handley Handel weather her senior season was better than her junior year. She said “It wasn’t. If she knew the team would be eliminated in the District semi-finals by North Hardin in a shootout instead of a 4th straight trip to Regions, she’s have appreciated her junior year much more.
Coming into this season, when someone asked me to evaluate the Class of 2023 of the Banshees’ soccer team, I’d say let’s wait and see how far they get. Without the long run, without the Regional trophy and without the State Tournament run, they would be near the top, but surely behind the 2015-2016-2017-2018 Banshee Region Champs. Success is a meter for measuring history and how you stack up. So, what if the Banshee’s didn’t win the Region or produce that miraculous run in the last four minutes of state, they still stack up well with a lot of teams’. With the Trophy, they are at the top. Let’s not forget that the Fab Five started it all, but the Six Pack brought home the hardware and year’s from now when students and athletes ask who Carlie Thurmond was or Ashlyn Miles or Kensey Clayton, Hallie Hurst, Presley Sparks, Khloe Young or even Tessa Miles for that matter, all you have to do is look up the 2023 KHSAA Girls State Championship Soccer game and that should tell you everything.
