Lady Lions top Lynchburg-Clay in shootout for sectional title

     DODSONVILLE - It wasn’t that the pressure was already high enough for senior Fairfield keeper Gabby Boone to take part in a sudden death shootout at the net, but she lined up for and made the fifth and final offensive attempt for the Lady Lions (in almost complete darkness) as FHS defeated Highland County rival Lynchburg-Clay 2-1, winning their first Division II SE District Sectional championship.

     The game Thursday night started in daylight, but continued to play until the final ray of light went away from the sky, and darkness overtook. But the light in the sky lasted just long enough for the Lady Lion soccer team to add their own banner, in their gymnasium, next to the rest of the accomplishments of other FHS sports.

     To reach the sudden death part of the match, the Lady Lions had to first battle back from trailing 1-0 for a majority of the game, as they did overcome the one-goal deficit with just a few minutes remaining in regulation.

     After the Lady Mustangs missed an opportunity to take a two-goal lead, Fairfield’s Kayla Haines kicked the ball at an angle from the left side of the goal and watched the ball sail into the back of the net on the opposite side, tying the game at 1-1 with 3:03 left in regulation.

     “We don’t get to all the sudden death overtimes without the goal by Kayla (Haines) in the second half,” Fairfield coach Russ Bone said. “She got the shot off and made a tremendous goal. It made the difference. This was such a back-and-forth game, and credit Lynchburg-Clay, they were tough.”

     After 80 minutes the game wasn’t over, with next being two 10 minute overtime periods.

     Neither team scored in the 10 minute overtimes, but each had numerous opportunities to take the lead. Kicks by both teams were being blocked or caught Gabby Boone and Lynchburg-Clay junior keeper Shelbi Halverson. Each made diving stops to keep their respective teams in the game for both overtimes, keeping the game tied at 1-1.

     Then came the sudden death shootout.

     The Lady Lions had to kick first with Haines scoring the first goal.

     “The goal by Kayla really set the tempo and gave us confidence in the sudden death,” Boone said.

     Gabby Boone stopped the first attempt by the Lady Mustangs with a tough catch in near darkness. Sadie Jones netted her kick attempt to give FHS a 2-0 lead after the second L-C attempt sailed over the top of the goal.

     Halverson made a big stop by catching the third attempt by FHS. L-C scored their first sudden death goal by Taylor Scott. Tiffany Woods gave FHS a 3-1 margin with a converted kick attempt from 12 yards out. Meredith Fittro brought L-C within one goal of tying FHS with a converted kick attempt.

     But Gabby Boone was just as tough offensively and she was at the goal, nailing the fifth kick attempt for the sectional final victory.

     “The goal by Gabby was special,” Russ Boone said. “When we talked before about if we came into this situation, we knew Gabby could handle the pressure, and she was the person we wanted out there with the last shot.”

     As for the Lady Mustangs, their season came to a sudden stop Thursday night, after leading for most of the game.

     No. 2 seeded L-C scored the lone goal in the first half as Scott gave the Lady Mustangs a 1-0 lead with the assist from freshman Brandi Hunter. L-C ends the season at 9-7-1.

     “This was a game of what could have been,” Lynchburg-Clay coach Dennis West said. “We had so many opportunities, but missed shots. We out shot Fairfield two-to-one, and a number of those shots were point blank. Fairfield kept the pressure on and we couldn’t finish.”

     The game marks the end of three senior soccer careers at Lynchburg-Clay. Lady Mustang seniors include: Cali Hatten, Alex Baker and Jessica Davidson.

     “They have been a good group of seniors to have,” West said. “Cali and Jessica played for four years, and Alex would have been a four year player, but was lost for the season in her junior year with an injury. I could always count on them to be there and they really helped with the attitude of the team with their leadership. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of seniors to depend on.

     “I can’t fault the kids on their effort. The girls did a nice job.”

     The win by No. 3 seeded Fairfield moves them to district play for the first time in program history. They will travel and take on the winner of No. 1 seeded Unioto and No. 5 seed Fairfield-Union on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 6 p.m. at Chillicothe High School.

     “This was a game of evenly matched teams and both teams played extremely tough,” Boone said. “This is the first time we have defeated Lynchburg-Clay in my tenure. The seniors lost to them in a sectional final before, but we are just excited and proud for this win (Thursday). I am so proud of them.”

     The win lifts FHS to 11-6 overall.