In a matchup between two of the top defensive girls’ soccer teams in the state – as well as a rematch between two teams that played to penalty kicks earlier this season – it was no surprise that one goal was the difference in the 26th District Tournament final.
Assumption junior Kaitlyn Revell’s goal in the 11th minute of the match stood up, boosting the Rockets to a 1-0 win over host Male and their sixth straight district title (their fifth in a row in the 26th) Wednesday night.
Both Assumption (11-6-2), which is No. 6 in the Kentucky High School Girls Soccer Coaches Association Top 25, and the 13th-ranked Bulldogs (14-5-3) advance to next week’s Seventh Region Tournament.
On Aug. 25 the same two teams played 90 minutes of scoreless soccer before the Rockets prevailed 3-1 in penalty kicks.
It looked like the rematch might be a rerun as neither team mustered a shot in the first 10 minutes. That wasn’t a shocker, though, since the Rockets gave up just 14 goals (0.8 per game, which is tied for ninth in the state) in the regular season while the Bulldogs came in allowing only 1.1 goals per game.
Things changed in the 11th minute, though. That’s when a ball played by Assumption midfielder Kenzie Riggs bounced right to Revell, who was near the top of the goal box.
“The ball was kind of bouncing around and Kenzie Riggs got ahold of it somehow and just played me through, and I slid it in back post,” said Revell, whose right-footer found the net.
Added Assumption coach Andrew Quinn: “What impressed me about Kaitlyn’s goal is, it’s a tough surface, the ball was bouncing and she was able to kind of deal with the bounce and place it. She opened her hips and placed it on the side of the goal where the goalie wasn’t. I was really impressed with her composure and how she was in the right spot. She was composed enough to calm herself down and pick her spot and finish it, so that was very good by her.”
The Bulldogs’ best chance to finish came early in the second half when senior Sydney Mattingly ran onto a ball in the box. Her shot, however, was too strong, sailing over the goal.
“I’d give her that a hundred times, 99 she makes it,” Male coach Christian Lauria said of Mattingly, who has 11 goals this season. “Unfortunately we had our opportunities and we just couldn’t finish.”
There weren’t very many chances for either team. Both squads managed only five shots on goal apiece.
“Personally the second half (I think) we won it, we just couldn’t get the tying goal,” Lauria said. “Hats off to them for taking advantage of the one opportunity they got and burying it, good teams do that. It stings, it burns, but I thought we were the better team tonight. Unfortunately the better team doesn’t always win.”
Assumption goalie Alyssa Campisano recorded her ninth shutout in the win.
“Male’s a very good team and this is a big field and we knew we had to compete. At the beginning we said we had to match their energy and compete for 50-50 balls and just work for an entire 80 minutes,” Quinn said. “We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. Like I said Male’s got a very good team, so all our girls committed to putting their heads down and working hard to preserve the shutout.”