The Chuckey-Doak Lady Black Knights were locked in a battle with the Lady Buccaneers of University High for most of the District 1-A Soccer Championship until Aliah Campbell found the net from outside the box in the 44th minute.
The goal proved to be enough for the Lady Black Knights to secure the win and the championship, en route to a 3-1 victory over University High.
“We’re a second-half team. We always play better in the second half. We condition harder; we work harder so that in the 80th minute of the game we’ve got more legs than anybody else.” said Chuckey-Doak coach Anna Ricker.
And it took a nearly 80-minute effort for the Lady Black Knights to find the win column on Thursday night in Lower Afton.
It took 24 minutes before the first shot on goal was scored for either team, and fortunately enough for Chuckey-Doak, the ball found its way into the back of the net, giving the Lady Black Knights an early 1-0 lead.
A beautiful corner kick landed right in front of Abby Hoxie and Layla Fox. A scrum for the ball gave Hoxie just enough room to sneak the ball past the University High keeper for the first goal of the game.
But it would not take long for the Lady Bucs to respond.
It took until the 34th minute for University High to put together much offense, as much of the first half was played with Chuckey-Doak on the offensive. But late in the first half, an incidental tripping penalty inside the box gave Rebecca Ford a chance to tie the game on a penalty kick, and she did not waste her opportunity.
The goal knotted things back up at 1-1 and the game went to the halftime break with that same score.
“When we went into the half being tied 1-1, I told the girls we were exactly where we wanted to be; we want to be tied or ahead, because we’re going to win the second half. Thats what I told them, and that’s what they did,” said Ricker of her team’s ability to take over the second half.
Four minutes into the second half, Fox had a breakaway opportunity that was thwarted by a great block, but moments later Campbell put a shot on goal from outside the box that was good, giving Chuckey-Doak the 2-1 lead in the 44th minute.
Both teams battled for position for the majority of the second half, with Chuckey-Doak being careful to not make a mistake on defense and give up the lead.
University High placed two shots on goal late in the game that nearly tied the game, but they were just wide, allowing the Lady Black Knights the opportunity to clear the ball and end the scoring threat.
In the 71st minute, Fox made a beautiful pass into the middle of the field and raced to open space only to receive the ball in the open and cross the keeper up with a shot to the opposite side of the box. The ball found the front corner of the goal, and gave Chuckey-Doak the 3-1 lead they would take to the finish line.
“This one is very special. This is a very special group of young ladies, and I know losing seven seniors last year – who were very, very talented – coming back into this year I don’t think anybody thought we could do it a second time. So, it makes it even more special,” Ricker said of her team’s championship effort.
The win sends the Lady Black Knights to Region 1-A tournament play with sense of accomplishment, but with more goals to pursue. Chuckey-Doak will play Oneida at home on Tuesday in the Region 1-A semifinals.
