[an error occurred while processing this directive]
|
LHS holds on to the second spot with a 5-1 conference record, with the Golden Eagles dipping to 6-2 in league play.
“It has been tough because we have had a lot of games moved around, and they were ready to get out and play,” said Ledford coach Matt Doyle.
Clearly from the opening kick the Lady Panthers had the desire to march on the pitch and snatch up a crucial victory.
East did actually have the first shot at a goal seven minutes in, but Mandi Beck’s shot deflected off the crossbar.
Some five minutes later, Ledford got its first real chance and lit up the scoreboard with a point. A shot was deflected off and East defender, where Samm Young happened to be for the putaway.
That is how the score would remain until the Panthers found a weakness in the teeth of the East defense midway through the second half.
Julie Baker was twice delivered the ball behind the defense at midfield, where she used her speed to streak by and put away two 1-on-1 chances with goalkeeper Emily Albright in a span of three minutes. That put the visitors up by what at the time, appeared to be an insurmountable lead.
“Julie with the two all by herself in front of the goal — that was beautiful,” said Doyle, who was overly excited when the third went in.
East coach Jeff Church was blown away by the fact his team normally has the speed to run down the free players, but had no answer for Baker.
“She beat our back line and we did not have any speed tonight at all. She just had us.”
Church was scrambling to find some sort of combination that could create some offense, and he found it with three minutes left to play. Jess Brinkley delivered a ball into the box where Dee Lanier headed the ball down into the corner for the first tally. A minute and change later the scoreboard read 3-2 thanks to a shot from Lanier that deflected off Ledford keeper Grace Lackey and was put in by Megan Byerly.
There were some anxious moments on both sides as East gave it one last run in extra time, but it was too little, too late for the Eagles.
“Ledford beat us to every ball and it certainly seemed like they wanted the game,” said Church. “If we played like we did the last five minutes like we really needed the game, it could have been different.”
Sports Editor Zach Kepley can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 234, or at kepley@tvilletimes.com.