The way Erin Prater tells the story, she was just in the right place at the right time to score an early goal for Lexington Catholic.

"I didn't see anybody there in that spot, so I went up there and hit it in," the junior defender said.

It was a goal 10 minutes in that would help the host Knights set the tone for the game and help lift them to a 2-0 win over Henry Clay in the state soccer sub-sectionals Tuesday night.

Prater tells it one way, but Coach Terry Quigley saw it differently.

He knows the Devils had allowed only nine goals all season, second-lowest of any team in the state.

So any ball that slides by Henry Clay and All-State keeper Kayla Price has to be pretty good.

"Just her being there was very heady," Quigley said of Prater. "She filled that spot, and she saw that opening and ran in. That's what you want from a three-year starter."

The Knights and the Devils used to have battles royale when they were both in the same region, but the two teams hadn't met since 2003, the year before the regions were realigned.

This match looked like many of the past competitive battles, with the Knights not getting their second goal until 16 seconds remained int the game.

"This was a huge win," defender Alex Waller said. "We were a little bit iffy going against Kayla (in goal). It was nice that we were able to get out and score early."

The Devils start just one senior, so they might have a chance at a rematch again like the ones in the past.

It looked as though Price might be the one to tie the score with two minutes left in the game. The junior came out of the goal to take a free kick from roughly 25 yards out, but Ciara Thomas, Catholic's keeper, corralled it in time.

Lexington Catholic, which won its 11th straight, has given up one post-season goal so far.

Both of the Devils' opportunities in the second half looked dangerous.

"We had our chances, but they didn't go in," Henry Clay Coach Mebit Aragaw said. "These girls, they were unbelievable. I couldn't have asked for a better season."

The Knights' second goal as the clock wound down came off the foot of Chelsea Smith, who assisted on Prater's score.

"That second goal came way too late for me to enjoy, it" Quigley said.

But the Knights will try to enjoy the trip to Boyle County on Thursday to play in the state sectionals versus the Lady Rebels, 3-0 winners over South Laurel.

The winner Thursday advances to the state semifinals in Georgetown next week.

Lexington Catholic 2, Henry Clay 0

Goals—Erin Prater, Chelsea Smith. Goalkeepers—HC: Kayla Price; LC: Ciara Thomas.

Records—Henry Clay 13-6-2, Lexington Catholic 18-4-1.