Lady Lions Conclude Season with First-Round Loss to Somerset in 12th Region Tournament
The Lady Lions soccer team ended their 2023 season with a 6-2 defeat at the hands of Somerset during the first round of the 12th Region Tournament. The tournament was hosted by West Jessamine on Tuesday, October 10.
The game started off on a sour note for the Lady Lions as an own-goal gave Somerset a 1-0 lead. However, the team found an answer in junior Nevaeh Ford-Willkom, who scored off her foot in the 22nd minute, bringing the game to a 1-1 tie. The Lions once again fell behind after a botched clearance resulted in another Somerset goal. Garrard retaliated, leveling the score at 2-2, courtesy of a sublime cross-field assist from sophomore Eva Elleman to freshman Paisley Poynter, who found the back of the net with 9:27 left in the first half.
The game remained tied at 2-2 through halftime, but Somerset took the initiative in the second half, scoring four unanswered goals. Despite their efforts, the Lady Lions could not find a response, leading to their elimination from the tournament.
This season marked just the second time that the Garrard Lady Lions qualified for the regional tournament, the first being in 2019. The team closed out the year with an 11-10-2 record, notching their first winning season since a truncated 2020 campaign due to COVID-19. This also marks the fourth winning season for the team in the past six years.
Despite the loss, the Lady Lions' appearance in the regional tournament and their winning record indicate positive strides for the program, suggesting promising prospects for future seasons.