Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story indicated the conference semifinal match against North Laurel would be on Thursday. The match is scheduled for Friday at 5:30 p.m.
The Russell County Middle School girls’ soccer team faced off against Wayne County on Tuesday night in the district finals. The Lady Lakers (16-4) were tied 1-1 with the top-seeded Lady Cardinals at halftime but were unable to pull off the victory, falling 3-1.
RCMS started off fast, with Madison Weisbrodt scoring a goal within the first 30 seconds of the match, but was unable to score any more in the contest.
“It was a tough match,” assistant coach Kirsty Chapman said. “Our defense slacked a little bit. [Their strikers] are fast, and they’re skillful … However, [our strikers] are just as good as them. We just couldn’t get the chances.”
The Lady Lakers made it to the district finals after a come-from-behind victory against No. 2-seeded Meece Middle School the night before, winning 4-3 in an exciting match.
“They started out pretty sloppy, but at halftime, they really brought it together,” head coach Cheryl Newby said of her players. “They fought hard enough to get the win.”
While RCMS lost in the West District finals, the win against Meece clinched them a spot in the conference semifinals, where they’ll take on East District winners North Laurel. The match will take place at North Laurel at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 13.
Newby said her team will go into the match with some confidence because the Lady Lakers defeated North Laurel 10-0 earlier in the season.
“We went there pretty nervous because they were second last year in the conference, and we hadn’t ever played them before,” Newby said. “Our team played the best they’ve ever played. We mercy ruled them. That’s when we saw that this team is tough, and they’ve gotten even better since then.”
The winner of that match will move on to the conference championship.
“I’m proud of this team,” Newby said. “Our defense was a little bit off tonight (against Wayne) … but this team has had a really good season and we’re looking forward to Thursday.”
