For Elizabethtown nothing seems to come easy anymore. Sure, they won plenty of games and compile a superior record against Top Twenty teams, but the playoffs are different, right. Since Rob Zoeller returned to his post as the Lady Panthers girls soccer coach, Elizabethtown had appeared to be back to their place of the upper-level teams in Kentucky high school sports. But even Zoeller would probably tell you that’s not enough. After his welcome back season of 2022 when the Lady Panthers ran through the regional competition in the playoffs and made their first ever KHSAA State Final appearance, you’d think it would be expected every year, right?
Complacency, injuries and intangibles have a way of bringing a well coached and talent loaded team back to earth quickly. After winning the 17th district championship in 2023, Elizabethtown looked ready to reclaim their Region Tournament trophy, but after displacing Bardstown in the semi-finals, they were dealt a painful blow when their next opponent (Bethlehem) would overcome a 1-0 deficit and end Lady Panthers dream of returning to the State Final. It was a tough loss for Elizabethtown and Zoeller, who saw his impressive streak of never having lost a 5th Region final (he was 9-0 coming into that match) broken. Even more distressing was watching the Banshees become the first 5th Region soccer team (either boys or girls) win the KHSAA State Championship.
So coming into 2024, Zoeller understood the task at hand as even with plenty of young talented players at his disposal, the Region as a whole seemed more up for grabs between four teams (Bethlehem, Bardstown and Central Hardin) than ever before.
Once again, Elizabethtown pushed through the regular season playing anyone and everyone while putting together a 12-4-4 record, but as Zoeller has often said the regular season is just that and results are not as important as preparation for the win-or-go-home games.
So after surviving the District Tournament, Elizabethtown knocked off Marion County (8-0), then extracted a little revenge against Bethlehem in the semi-finals (2-0) while getting ready for their third match against 17th District rival Central Hardin in the Region Championship game at Nelson County. Since Zoeller returned to Elizabethtown, the Lady Bruins have been one of the few major thorns in the Lady Panthers side going 3-4 against Justin Maddock’s team (including district tourney matches) and was 0-2 against them this season coming into this game.
Much like the boys Region Final the day before, the game would be played tighter than a high stakes poker game as neither team would give ground easily. Elizabethtown seemed to control the ball for much of the first half but shot blanks against the aggressive Lady Bruin defenders. Just as they had done in their other two meetings, Central Hardin would control much of the second half and would get a few shots of their own, but his time the Lady Panthers were ready including Central Hardin’s best shot which came when Molly Bryan took off and tried to slip the ball over Marissa Bates reach, but the crafty Goalie managed to deflect the shot. After two halves of scoreless play, Elizabethtown had to feel confident as the first overtime period began. “We talk about the three things in the postseason: Defending, Set Pieces and Goalkeeping. And tonight Defending stood tall tonight. You win championships with defense and that’s what we hang our hat on. I’m really proud of our kids.” Said Zoeller.
Indeed, it did as the first OT ended and the second overtime continued as neither team was able to break through. It appeared as though the game would finally be decided by a shootout, but just as the clock struck 1:01, Ana Garcia took matters into her own hands (or feet). The sophomore had been asked to help carry the load in scoring along side Campbell Wallace, with Adelyn Inman gone and with Rachel Bell out with an injury, Garcia put eleven balls in the back of the net this season, but with time dying, she took a pass from Wallace from the right side and shot straight and true in the left corner of the net past Hannah Ferguson for the game winner.
Much like Conner Hobbs Golden Goal the previous night, it may have not been classic shot while fighting off multiple defenders while under duress, but it was the one that counted. The Game Winner. And much like Hobbs unforgettable goal will be remembered as the one while sent one team forward and another team home.
So, the Lady Panthers live to play another day and with Sacred Heart waiting on the road ahead, they probably won’t have much time to celebrate this game for the ages.
But when they do, hopefully they’ll remember this game and Garcia’s Golden Shot and most importantly what they had to accomplish to get to that point.
