tool name

Tuesday, Oct. 06, 2009

Senior the star for Lady Knights

2 GOALS ENOUGH FOR WIN ON SENIOR NIGHT

If Hollywood were writing a script for Chelsea Smith, it couldn't have come up with one better than how things actually played out Monday night.

On her senior night at Lexington Catholic, Smith scored two goals within 20 seconds to give the No. 5 Lady Knights a 2-0 win over No. 7 Woodford County.

Both goals came from nearly 20 yards out and both arched into the back of the net.

"Those are two of the best goals of the year," Woodford County Coach Dave McIver said. "What a special night for their seniors, especially for Chelsea, to score two goals like that."

Smith wasn't as excited about the goals as she was of the festivities surrounding her and eight fellow seniors.

"Just being with my friends and teammates tonight was special," she said. "It was really cool tonight. Our senior class is really close, and our team has gotten really close this year."

Both teams were playing without key players, who were out with injuries and illnesses. Catholic was without freshman forward Mary Beth Gorham and senior defender Awbrey Wahle. The Lady Jackets were without midfield forces Katrina Ott and Amy Morford.

The Woodford County defense barely had time to blink before Smith made it 2-0 with seven minutes to go in the first half.

"They were just well struck," Catholic Coach Terry Quigley said of Smith's goals. "There was just nothing anybody could do about it."

Smith said no one was more shocked by them both going in than she was.

"I definitely couldn't believe it," she said. "The coaches are always telling me to take some shots from outside the 18 (yard line) so I've been trying to work on that."

McIver said his team played perhaps its best defense of the season in the first half but only had a small breakdown in that window when Smith took advantage.

"A player like Chelsea Smith, you give her space and she's going to score," he said.

The Lady Jackets, who advanced to the state semifinals last season, have had a strong season that moves into the post-season next week.

Their five losses all have been to teams ranked in the top 10, including falling to No. 1 Sacred Heart, No. 2 Notre Dame No. 3 Manual and now No. 5 Catholic.

McIver is confident the brutal schedule will prepare his team to be there at the end again.

Quigley, whose Knights won their sixth straight, is pleased with how his group has progressed as well.

"This is our fifth game in eight days and we've won them all," he said. "We're playing as well as we've been all season."

Lexington Catholic 2, Woodford County 0

Goals—LC: Chelsea Smith 2. Goalkeepers—WC: Lyndsay Vance; LC: Ciara Thomas; Kate Fitzgerald.

Records—Woodford County 8-5-2, Lexington Catholic 10-4-1.