Lady Cavs’ Season Comes To A Heartbreaking End

by Rusty Ellis

The Cookeville Lady Cavs battled for all 80 minutes of Tuesday’s District 7AAA Semifinal match, but it was the visitors who came away with a late 2-1 victory to end Cookeville’s season.

The Lady Wildcats struck first early in the match, as a breakaway goal in the second minute gave Wilson Central a 1-0 lead.

The score would remain that way until Cassie Gallagher drew a penalty in the box to earn a penalty kick, which she quickly put in the back of the net to tie the score at 1-1 in the 18th minute.

The match would go to half with the same score with both teams tied at 1-all.

Both teams put together multiple chances in the second half, but it took all the way until the final four seconds of the match to decide a winner, as Wilson Central slipped the ball just past the Cookeville keeper to take a 2-1 lead with 4.3 seconds remaining.

The clock ran out soon after Cookeville began play again, ending their season in a heartbreaking 2-1 loss to the Lady Wildcats.

Despite her team falling just short of advancing in the District 7AAA Tournament, head coach Lauren Metts maintained that she was proud of her team’s fight throughout the match.

“I thought our girls showed up ready for a battle and they battled it out for 80 minutes,” Metts said. “I’m proud of how they played and how much they grew and matured throughout the season…it’s a completely different team that took the field tonight compared to how we started the season.”

It also put a wrap on the high school careers for Metts’ 2023 senior class, a group she says has been an honor to coach.

“These girls are special to me for sure,” Metts said. “I’ve seen them go from 11-year-olds to 18-year-olds…seeing them grow and develop, not just as soccer players, but also young women and becoming who they are, I’m just as proud of them.”

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