GRC girls soccer back in title game

Published 11:50 pm Thursday, October 19, 2017

The George Rogers Clark High School girls soccer team is back in the 10th Region Tournament Championship game with a chance to defend last year’s title.

The Cardinals topped Bishop Brossart, 5-0, in the semifinal Thursday in Winchester.

“Anytime you can make it to the championship game in the region, it’s a bonus,” GRC coach Matthew Abner said. “We’ve had a good season. When you start tournament play, each win you get makes it a little better. The girls played well tonight.”

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Allie Bush scored the first goal on a Leslie Hernandez assist and Delaney Manning added a second score midway through the first half.

GRC added three more in the second half — one from Bush, another from Manning and a Shannon Ramey header off a Manning pass.

The Cards will face Campbell County Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at home. The Camels advanced with a 2-0 win over Harrison County in the night’s first semifinal.

“Campbell is always a quality team,” Abner said. “It’s a big school, good filtering program, always a top-notch team with good coaches. They’re always a tough game.”

GRC has faced the Camels twice in the previous two region tournaments, splitting those meetings. The Cards won last season’s tournament game against Campbell, 2-1, in a downpour. Rain is not expected for Saturday’s meeting.

“It will be a battle,” Abner said. “At this point, I feel confident in our team. If we come out and play our best, we have a good chance of winning. That’s all we want, is the opportunity to win.

“They’re going to come out and give us their best. They’re going to try to move on. No one wants their season to end.”

GRC will be playing for the 10th Region title on its home field. The Cardinals last played with a chance to win a title at home when they won the 12th Region championship over Bourbon County in 2011.

“Anytime you play at home, it’s good,” Abner said. “It’s comfortable and it’s what you’re used. It’s where you want to be.”