History keeps being made in Logan County’s young soccer program. Coach Daniel McCarley and his players are hoping another chapter becomes a reality this week.
If the Lady Cougars can beat Franklin-Simpson for the third time this fall during Monday’s district opener, Logan can reach the district finals and regional tournament for the first time. The Lady Cats and Lady Cougars will meet Monday at 5:30 at LCHS. The winner of today’s match will play top seed Todd Central at 5:30 Tuesday.
Logan beat F-S 2-1 in an extra period at Franklin Aug. 20. In their second meeting on Sept. 11 at Logan, the Lady Cougars won 4-2.
Seeding for the district tournament came on the narrowest of margins. The first meeting of the season determines the rankings. After Logan edged F-S in that extra period, the Lady Cougars fell 3-2 to Todd Central on penalty kicks. Russellville, the fourth school in the 13th District, doesn’t field varsity soccer teams.
Saturday, the Lady Cougars and Todd Central faced each other again to conclude the regular season, only three days before they could clash again for the championship. Regulation ended in a 2-2 tie, and McCarley joined with Lady Rebels coach Heath Wilson to call the game a tie rather than play extra periods, since they will potentially meet again soon.
Last year in their first season of varsity soccer, the Lady Cougars put together a 4-9 record. In the district tournament, they lost 6-0 to South Warren, which is no longer in the district. That district was much different from this year. Seven teams were part of what was then the 7th District, including Bowling Green, Muhlenberg County and Butler County. Now it’s the same four teams as the basketball, baseball and softball district, and Russellville no longer fields a varsity soccer team, either boys or girls.
“We’ve played much more like we’re capable of this year,” says McCarley, who was a standout player for Russellville High School and Ohio Valley College, an NCAA Division II school. The Crittenden Drive Church of Christ youth minister, he has also coached at Glasgow High School.
“Our team is improved and deeper with several younger players having moved up. Three of our losses were so close that they were decided by penalty kicks.”
Logan will start four freshmen today—goalkeeper Lauren Burnett, defender Taleia Mason, midfielder Breanna Baptiste and forward Emma Cartas, along with two sophomores, defender Samantha Rittenberry and midfielder Brittany Barton.
Also in the starting lineup will be a pair of seniors, defender Kelsey Markham and forward Claire Hopkins, both track standouts. The three junior starters will be defender Laura Hunt and midfielders Anna Holman and Megan Lindsey.
Key reserves include senior Hayley Mayher and freshmen Megan Ferguson and Christian Lynch.
Coach Mike Stovall’s Lady Cats are led by a pair of seniors, tough goalkeeper Sara McAbee and Madalyn Biggs, who scores multiple goals frequently but is also one of the best defenders. F-S has a 4-7 record.
“The girls have worked hard and are excited about district,” Coach McCarley concludes. “They want to go to region.”