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Lady Cougars Fall to Lambert in PKs, Longhorns Win Region 7 AAAA Title

The Chattahoochee girls soccer team was tied 1-1 with Lambert through two overtimes, but lost in penalty kicks.

After 40 minutes of regulation and two five-minute overtimes, the girls game between Chattahoochee and Lambert for the Region 7 AAAA Championship was still tied 1-1. 

However, the Lady Longhorns edged out the Lady Cougars in penalty kicks to win.    

"It was an entertaining game.  A region match should hopefully be very even," Lambert head coach Scott Luthart said. "We were definitely being out intensified in the first half. At halftime, we talked about picking up the intensity a little bit, and seeing if we can get numbers going forward  a little bit better.  In the second half, I thought we came forward with numbers a lot better, combined a lot better, and we stretched them a little more defensively as well.  We left probably three or four golden chances on the field in the first 15 to 20 minutes of the second half.  I was afraid that might haunt us in the end, but thankfully, Heather's [Heather Lacy] fourth attempt from in close was the one that equalized it for us," he said.     

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Chattahoochee got on the scoreboard first when sophomore Mandy Janowitz scored off a corner kick eight minutes into the first half. Senior Sarah Marks took a shot on goal that was saved by Lambert junior goalkeeper Taylor Hammond, but out for a corner kick for Chattahoochee. On that corner kick, the ball was sent into the goal mouth and went off Hammond's hands. 

Janowitz was there to knock it in and the Lady Cougars took the lead 1-0.  Chattahoochee controlled the run of play for much of the first half, and went into halftime leading 1-0.    

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However, the second half was different.  Lambert came out with increased intensity and began to put pressure on the Lady Cougars' defense.  Lambert sophomore Lacy had four shots on goal, but was unable to score.  Her first try sailed over the crossbar and her second try went past Chattahoochee senior goalkeeper Jessica Robinson, but wide of the net. Her third try once again sailed over the crossbar. 

Alisha Bostic and Casey Baker also had chances to score, but were unable to convert.  Lacy had a fourth try when she dribbled the ball towards the right post and took a shot, but Robinson was there for the save.    

However, Lacy would finally break through for the Lady Longhorns.  With 2:12 left in regulation, she drove past a Chattahoochee defender and put the ball in the far corner of the net to tie the score 1-1, sending the match into overtime.  After two five-minute overtimes, the score was still tied 1-1, so the game would have to be decided in penalty kicks.    

It was Lambert's turn to go first.  However, the Lady Longhorns were denied as Jessica Robinson made a diving save. However, Chattahoochee was not able to capitalize as Mandy Janowitz's attempt sailed over the crossbar.  

Chattahoochee head coach Vince Strine argued that someone in the crowd blew a horn just as Janowitz was about to take the kick, but no re-kick was granted.  Video replay showed that a horn in the crowd went off right before the kick was attempted.    

On the Longhorns' second attempt, junior defender Bostic converted and Lambert had a 1-0 advantage in PKs.  Chattahoochee junior Ally Jordan responded by converting her PK to tie the penalty kick scoring at 1-1. 

Lambert's Emily Wilhelm converted her penalty kick, giving Lambert the lead 2-1 in PKs. However, Lambert goalkeeper Taylor Hammond made a diving save to deny Jordan and the Lady Cougars.  Now, it was Jordan Harmon's turn for Lambert. Harmon delivered, putting the ball in the far left corner of the net, giving the Lady Longhorns a 3-1 edge in PKs. 

Chattahoochee had to convert or Lambert would win the region championship.  Unfortunately for Allison Boyajan, her attempt hit the near post and the Lady Longhorns won the Region 7 AAAA title. Officially, the final score was 2-1 in favor of Lambert.    

"We just all came together as one.  We really wanted this game," Lacy said.  "We fought hard together.  We came close last year, but this year, we finally broke through."  

"I felt like we played a good first half. I felt like we possessed the ball well.  We moved it well.  We were very organized," Chattahoochee head coach Vince Strine said. "They (Lambert) were down 1-0 with a lot to play for, and they beat us to the ball more times than we got to the ball. Their hard work paid off in the second half.  They tied us up and sent us to overtime. Then it went to penalty kicks, where they made theirs and we didn't."    

With the loss, the Lady Cougars drop to 9-5 on the season and 7-1 in Region 7 AAAAA play.  They return to the pitch Thursday when they host Sequoyah at 7:55 p.m. 

With their win over Chattahoochee, the Lady Longhorns clinch the Region 7 AAAA Championship and improve their overall record to 11-2-1 and an undefeated 9-0 in Region 7 AAAA play. Their next game will be April 4 in England as part of a tour over Spring Break.  Kick off is set for 1 p.m. EST.      

Click   for a roundup of other high school sports scores.

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