HENDERSONVILLE Lightning struck more than once on Monday evening, and the Hendersonville High girls soccer team struck on the field as well.
After a first-half onslaught that saw the top-seeded Lady Commandos take a five-goal lead, Hendersonville eliminated fourth-seeded Mt. Juliet with a 7-2 victory in a District 9-AAA Tournament semifinal at Drakes Creek Park’s Field of Dreams.
Hendersonville High seniors Maddie Kimler (14) and Layne Massey (16) celebrate with sophomore Brooke Long after a first-half goal.
The match was stopped for lightning at 7:04 p.m. and delayed for more than 50 minutes before the match was called with more than 37 minutes remaining.
“It’s a little weird, and both teams were all for playing as late as we could,” Hendersonville senior Maddie Kimler said. “But they felt that at the rate we were going, we were going to have to wait until 9 (p.m.). Both teams wanted to play really bad, but a short night was different.”
The Lady Commandos (10-4-3) scored all seven goals in the first half, including two from both Kimler and junior Sydney Cason.
“We knew (Mt. Juliet’s) offside traps,” Kimler said. “That was one of our main focuses, to stay onside as much as possible. Our main attack was to get it past them and make runs on to the ball.”
Sophomore Haley Stevens began the scoring 2:06 into the match, converting a cross from classmate Brooke Long.
Hendersonville High junior Arden Butler makes a pass during first-half action.
Long and junior Whitney Phillips also scored for the Lady Commandos, who clinched their 22nd consecutive appearance in the regional tournament with the victory.
Cason’s second goal capped a sequence of three Lady Commando goals over a span of 2:05.
Lauren Whitmire and Brooklyn Butler scored 90 seconds apart for the Lady Bears, who ended their season with a 10-6 record.
Hendersonville – which captured a 5-1 win at Mt. Juliet on Oct. 1 – will play in the district championship for the 21st time in 22 years, facing the winner of the second semifinal between Station Camp and Beech. That match was postponed from Monday until Tuesday at 7 p.m. due to the inclement weather.
The District 9-AAA Tournament championship match is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. at Drakes Creek Park.
Reach Chris Brooks at 615-575-7118 or on Twitter @CB_SumnerSports.