#1 Sacred Heart (15-4-1) vs. #12 Greenwood (16-2-1)
October 28, 2020 – 3:00pm – Henry Clay High School
By Perry Swack – Sporting Times Reporter
Greenwood hits the road for the first time in this state tournament, as it heads to Lexington for the semifinals at Henry Clay High School. Meeting them first will be the Sacred Heart Valkyries, who have won 6 of the last 17 state championships (2003, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2018). The Valkyries are arguably the favorites to win again this season as they are currently ranked #1 in the state’s Maher Rankings. Sacred Heart won the 2018 state title and Greenwood won the 2019 tournament, so both teams will bring big-game experience to the pitch.
Recent Meetings (Since 2000)
October 10, 2020 – Greenwood 0 @ Sacred Heart 4
September 22, 2019 – Sacred Heart 0 @ Greenwood 0
November 5, 2008 – Sacred Heart 6 vs. Greenwood 0 (State Semifinals)
October 3, 2002 – Sacred Heart 2 vs. Greenwood 0 (State Semifinals)
Players to Watch
The Lady Gators have epitomized “team” soccer over the last couple weeks in starting the postseason 7-0. Since the start of the region championship game, the team has assisted on five of its seven goals. Sarah Wiles has led the team in assists in that timeframe, logging assists in each of Greenwood’s first two state tournament games. Wiles and others will play major roles Wednesday afternoon if they are to spring the upset. Senior Amaya Salvador has also been productive in the postseason. The forward has scored or assisted on a goal in three of the last four matches, dating back to her winner in the region semifinals over Barren County.
Senior Katie Barney may be second on the Valkyries in goals (11) and fourth in assists (5), but the forward scored a brace against the Lady Gators on October 10 in a 4-0 win in Louisville. She and junior Mallory Glass will need to be contained if Greenwood is to advance to the state final. Glass leads the team in scoring with 21 goals on the year, including a goal and an assist in the opening round match at Bardstown. Senior goalkeeper Amanda Isaacs has recorded 50 saves and five shutouts in 2020. She was in goal in 2018 when the Valkyries won the state title.
Preview and Prediction
Sacred Heart is playing in its fifth-consecutive state semifinal match. It lost an overtime thriller – 1-0 – to Highlands last season, preventing the Valkyries and Lady Gators from meeting in the finale. While the 7th Region champions are currently ranked #1 in the Maher Rankings and defeated Greenwood 4-0 only 18 days ago, it must be noted that the Valkyries are not inevitable. In fact, coach Christian Lauria’s bunch has been pushed to penalty kicks in three of its last four games. Most recently, Sacred Heart went to sudden-death penalties in the state quarterfinals, eking out a 4-3 win at Simon Kenton in the seventh round of PKs.
Greenwood has had its fair share of penalty shootouts over the last two weeks as well – most notably in the 14th District and 4th Region championship games. Conversely, it has had an easier time in the first two rounds of the state tournament, dispatching of Owensboro Catholic, 3-0, in the quarterfinals, and Madisonville-North Hopkins, 2-1, in the opening round. If this match goes to penalties, both teams will be ready.
As for my prediction, I am predicting just that – a fourth penalty shootout in five matches for the Valkyries, and a third penalty shootout in seven matches for the Lady Gators. A penalty shootout pitting Isaacs with Greenwood stopper, Taryn Guyer. Both have come up huge in shootouts this postseason.
But before this match gets to PKs, it will start with an early goal by Mallory Glass to put Sacred Heart up 1-0. Coach Zac Lechler’s club will fight and claw for the equalizer to no avail in the first half. To start the second half, Greenwood’s Kayelee Maners will hit the post but it will still leave her team down 1-0. In the 70th minute, a Sarah Wiles cross will find Claire Allen who will tie the game up at 1-1. In the waning moments of regulation, the Valkyries will threaten, but a Kennedy White clearance on the end line will send us to extra time. In extra time, neither team will threaten, and it will leave us with penalties.
Extra penalty kicks will not be needed in this shootout as Greenwood will come out firing, slotting four of the five shots to defeat the Valkyries, 4-2. With the win, the Lady Gators will be back in the state championship game with a chance to defend its crown on Saturday night.
Greenwood 1, Sacred Heart 1 (Greenwood wins 4-2 in penalties)
The winner of this game will advance to the state championship game scheduled for Saturday, October 31 at 4pm at Henry Clay High School. The winner will face either Lexington Catholic or North Laurel.
