September 17, 2020 – 5:30pm
By Perry Swack
4th Region giants square off in early season matchup
The KHSAA provides records dating back to 2000. Dating back to 2000, only two teams have reached the 4th Region championship game every year: Greenwood and Bowling Green. For the last twenty years, the Lady Gators and Lady Purples have faced off on the pitch with the right to play in the state tournament. Greenwood has won the title ten times; Bowling Green has won the title ten times. Each team finished as runner-up in the seasons it did not win the region championship. Needless to say, these two schools have dominated 4th Region soccer.
Both schools are in line to compete for the 4th Region title again in 2020. Greenwood – coming off a state championship in 2019 – is ranked #4 in the Maher rankings as of September 12. Bowling Green is ranked #28. Despite winning the last two region titles, Greenwood has not won at The Pit (BG’s home stadium) since 2016, when it won 4-3 in penalty kicks. The Lady Gators have not defeated the Lady Purples on their home turf in regulation since 2012. Despite coach Zac Lechler’s talented team, they will not be able to walk over their archrival on its home pitch.
2019 Meetings
The Lady Gators swept the Lady Purples in all three meetings last season en route to the 4th Region’s first state title in girls’ soccer.
October 17, 2019 – Greenwood 2, Bowling Green 0 (4th Region Championship)
October 9, 2019 – Bowling Green 0 @ Greenwood 4 (14th District Championship)
September 19, 2019 – Bowling Green 0 @ Greenwood 3
Players to Watch
Five players have already entered the scoresheet for Greenwood through the first three games of the season. Sophomore midfielder Claire Allen leads the Lady Gators in goals, scoring two in a season-opening 4-0 win over Warren Central. Sophomore forward Sarah Wiles has tallied two assists and a goal in the early going.
Bowling Green features a dynamic attack led by freshman Maggie Morris, who has come on to score four goals in the team’s opening three games. Senior Haley Stevens – the Lady Purples’ leading returning scorer from 2019 – is also a player to watch. She has tallied two goals and an assist this year.
Preview and Prediction
Greenwood was the preseason #1 team in the state of Kentucky. A tie at home to #14 Marshall County was a solid result; however, the rankings dropped the Lady Gators to fourth after the 0-0 match. Regardless of ranking, Greenwood expects to compete in the state tournament this season. Despite a losing record in 2019 (10-11), so do the Lady Purples. Coach Lisa Correa’s bunch always finds a way to make a postseason run.
Greenwood’s top win to date would be its 3-1 home win over district rival South Warren on Tuesday night. Bowling Green boasts a slightly better win (per the current state rankings) after traveling to Madisonville-North Hopkins on Tuesday and leaving a winner, 3-1 as well.
As for Thursday’s meeting, I expect a rather tight battle. Greenwood outscored BG 9-0 in its three meetings in 2019. I predict the Lady Purples will find the back of the night, but the Lady Gators will find it more, taking a 2-1 victory back to The Swamp.
