On paper, it was just a win in high school boys soccer. In reality, though, Russellville’s 1-0 shutout of Logan County Wednesday may be looked back on as a milestone moment.
Consider these factors:
*It was the first varsity win under new coach Cameron Kisselbaugh, a former Panther player.
*It was a district win, running the team’s district record to 1-1 following a season-opening 8-0 loss at Franklin-Simpson.
*The win came in a Clash of the Cats against the Panthers’ crosstown rival. The Cougars came into the match with a 3-2 record.
*Sophomore Charles Graves’ goal was the first of the season and of the Kisselbaugh Era.
*Senior goalkeeper Noah Harris recorded the first shutout of that era. The Cougars had scored in each of their five previous matches with goal totals of 8, 7 and 5 in their three wins.
Graves’ goal came on an assist from sophomore Braxton Coleman’s assist.
Harris resisted 14 shots on goal by Coach Trevar Gray’s Cougars.
Other Panthers playing in this game were seniors Alex Arnold, Ethan O’Neal and Everson Teletor; juniors Immanuel Clayton, Trevon Covington and Diego Vera; sophomores Eli Flippin, Aiden Gardner, Aiden Jayne, Ethan Mayhew and Jonathan Reyes; and freshmen Logan Cardwell, Aiden Gardner, Harrison Kerr, Landon Maguire and Randall Morrow.
The Cougar defense held RHS to five shots on goal. Goalkeeper James Bryan stopped four of them, but not the historic fifth one—Graves’ goal.
The Panthers are scheduled to return to district action Thursday at Todd Central.