Soccer

HARRODSBURG - If Slade Ransdell had never gotten hurt, he would still be thrilled about what he and his teammates have accomplished this season. But he wouldn't appreciate it nearly as much. Spending nearly half a season on the sideline - and briefly considering the possibility that he might never be the same player he was before - has given Ransdell a perspective that the rest of the Mercer County boys don't have. In exchange, the senior goalkeeper has given the Titans his best effort in his senior season, anchoring a defense that has become one of the stingiest in the state.

STANFORD - The Lincoln County girls soccer team closed out the regular season with back-to-back solid performances, scoring 21 consecutive goals in shutouts over Somerset and McCreary Central. The Lady Patriots blanked Somerset 10-0 on the road last Wednesday in a makeup game, then returned home on Thursday to post a 11-0 shutout over McCreary Central on Senior Night. Fourteen different Lady Patriots got in on the regular-season ending scoring blitz, led by Rachel Spangler with six goals between the two games.

For the first time in school history, the Lincoln County boys soccer team is in the position to repeat as district champion. Lincoln made school history last year by capturing its first-ever 30th District title to advance to regionals. While no longer a member of that district, Lincoln can still repeat as a champion, having earned a shot at the 45th District title by defeating Boyle County 4-2 Monday night in semifinal tournament action at Garrard County Middle School. Lincoln (11-5)

It took two overtimes and a shootout to settle the 39th District championship. Montgomery County made four of five shots on goal in the shootout to defeat George Rogers Clark 1-0 at Stonerside Field in Paris. Clark made three shots and couldn't match the Indians' final tally. “It was a tough way to lose,” Clark coach Ian Collins said. “We have to bounce back on Tuesday.” Both teams advance to next week's 10th Region Tournament at Harrison County. The Thorobreds captured the 38th District title with a 2-1 triumph over Pendleton County Thursday.

STANFORD - The Lincoln County girls soccer team's fifth consecutive winning season only got better Monday night as the Lady Patriots defeated Danville 3-0 in the semifinals of the 45th District Tournament. Lincoln's shutout victory, the team's 10th of the season, gave the Lady Patriots (13-3-2) their first district win since 2004, and a shot at the district title Wednesday against Boyle County, the only district team to defeat Lincoln in the regular season. “They were ready.

All-Tournament Team Josh Bowman, West Jessamine; Sam Brown, West Jessamine; Dylan Carss, Mercer County; Matt Gammon, Mercer County; Jackson Green, East Jessamine; Shawn Murphy, West Jessamine; Jarod Rocco, East Jessamine; Landon Souder, Mercer County; Daniel Steele, Mercer County.

There was no drama in the finals of the girls 39th District Tournament finals Wednesday night at Stonerside Field in Paris. George Rogers Clark notched its second consecutive district title with a 3-0 shutout of rival Montgomery County in a contest that didn't resemble the regular-season meeting between the two teams that ended with a 3-2 victory by Clark in a game that ended on penalty kicks on Sept. 24 in Mount Sterling. This time, the Lady Cards scored two goals in the opening half and added another score in the final 40 minutes, keeping the Lady Indians at bay behind a sparkling performance by the team's defensive unit.

Meghan Paynter and Hannah Harris scored three goals each to lead the Boyle County girls to a 10-0 victory over Garrard County in a 45th District Tournament semifinal Monday at Stanford. No. 21 Boyle advanced to the championship game Wednesday against host Lincoln County, which defeated Danville 3-0 in the other semifinal Monday. Lakin Wren, Madelyn LaFavers, Alexis Kerbaugh and Chelsea Gill scored one goal each for Boyle (12-5-3). LaFavers, Gill and Kerbaugh had one assist each. “I was pleased with how we played,” Boyle coach Brian Deem said.