LEXINGTON, Ky. – For the third time in the past five seasons, Sacred Heart will play for the girls state soccer title.
Amber Sisler scored a hat trick, including two goals 54 seconds apart early in the second half, to lead the Valkyries to a 4-0 victory over Bethlehem in a Kentucky High School Athletic Association semifinal at Paul Dunbar High School Thursday.
While the Valkyries (21-4-1), the top-ranked team in the state coaches association poll, are in a familiar spot, they will look to claim their first title since 2009, when they ended a run of three straight crowns. They will face Lexington Catholic in Saturday’s 7 p.m. final.
GALLERY | SHA 4, Bethlehem 0
Despite outshooting the No. 24 Banshees 12-3 in the first half, the Valkyries only took a 1-0 lead to the break. They got that lead thanks to Sisler, who crashed the net in the 17th minute after Cassie Amshoff’s shot from the top of the six-yard box went off the hands of Banshees keeper Abby Elder. The ball looked to be close to the line as Sisler and teammate Ashley Durik charged in, and officials credited the sophomore forward.
“Cass shot a hard shot,” Sisler said. “It was bouncing around. I think everyone just kinda went in and dove after it.”
Despite that lead, Sacred Heart Jaclyn Puntillo urged her team to keep on the attack in the second half, which they would do in the fourth minute. Catherine Fell had possession near the left sideline and raced toward the middle of the field. As she reached the top of the 18-yard box, she found enough space to get off a shot that hit the upper-right corner of the net for her team-high 14th goal.
How the senior scored that goal said more than any pep talk Puntillo or anyone else could give, the coach said.
“That was just a statement,” Puntillo said of Fell’s goal. “It was like, we’re not losing this game.”
Bethlehem (17-8-1) coach Danny Rossoll said he tried to make some defensive changes to keep the Valkyries from getting so many shots. But after Fell beat her first opponent, it led to a breakdown that allowed her to get free as she approached the penalty box.
Sisler would make it a three-goal lead just 1:52 later as she charged toward a loose ball 14 yards out and placed it in the upper-left corner. She added the closing goal seconds later, as Sarah Buse served a cross into the box that Amshoff one-timed right to her for her 11th goal of the season.
The Valkyries have won 11 straight – all by shutout – en route to Saturday’s finale. While Stodghill has come up with some big saves during that stretch – including three Thursday off Sydney Greenwell direct kicks – t he junior keeper said it’s been a team effort.
Puntillo agreed. Two years ago players like Buse and Stodghill were “little tiny freshmen.” Now as juniors, they along with three seniors provide a formidable back line.
“I think what differentiates this team from our other teams is just experience,” Puntillo said.
* Lexington Catholic 3, Owensboro Catholic 2: Trailing 2-1, the No. 8 Lady Knights (24-2-2) got goals from Kennedy Tranter and Abby Van Hoeve in the final 10 minutes to beat the No. 3 Lady Aces (24-3).
Alana Hughes also scored for Lexington Catholic, which is undefeated (14-0-1) in its past 15 matches. In Saturday’s final, the Lady Knights will try to avenge a 3-0 loss to Sacred Heart on Aug. 17.
Annabel Moore scored both goals for Owensboro Catholic, which was the state runner-up to South Oldham last year.