BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – The Bowling Green boys and girls soccer teams defeated the Greenwood boys and girls in the 4th Region championship games to advance to their respective 2022 state tournaments.
In the boys’ matchup, the Purples took a 1-0 lead after a goal in the 17th minute. Three minutes later, they were able to take advantage of the Greenwood defense and put one into the back net.
The Gators didn’t want to go down without a fight, after being rewarded with a penalty they threw in one to reduce the deficit to one.
After the break, the Purples wanted to end the game for good. Four minutes into the final half of the game, Shukurani Makiwa is able to get behind the defense and hit the back of the net to give the Purples a 3-1 lead.
With 10 minutes left, Yaredi Yaredi shoved it past the keeper, putting them 4-1 ahead and essentially putting the game on hold.
Greenwood would get a couple of shots on goal that looked like they’d go in, but keeper Jackson Rodgers showed his length and made save after save to keep the Bowling Greens lead in great shape.
Bowling Green advances to the state tournament for the first time since 2015.
20 minutes away in Greenwood, the Lady Purples got away with the same score as the boys.
Neither the Lady Gators nor the Lady Purples could touch the scoreboard in the first half. However, when we got to the last 40 minutes, it became a different game.
In the 43rd minute of the game… A long high kick from Breece Bryant found its way to the top right corner of the net to score the first point of the game. A minute later, senior Kayelee hit Maners and tied her up at one.
A few minutes later…the Lady Purples found themselves pushing against the Lady Gators’ defense. From a corner kick, the ball grazed an alligator’s head and footed the elder Allison Cleaver and into the net, giving Bowling Green the advantage back.
Bowling Green would end up winning that game 2-1, advancing to the state tournament for the second year in a row.
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