Highlands and Central Hardin traded goals in the second half of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association girls soccer state semifinals to force a pair of overtimes and then some deciding penalty kicks.
Central Hardin (17-8) missed its final penalty kicks while Highlands (15-9-2) converted, sending the Bluebirds to the KHSAA state championship.
Scoreless after a half, Highlands landed the first blow when freshman Ally Lickert scored her team-high eighth goal of the year with 24:30 left in regulation. Less than three minutes later, Central Hardin evened the score on a goal from sophomore Carly Lang.
After a pair of scoreless overtime periods, the teams began their five rounds of penalty kicks. Central Hardin had a 2-1 lead after two rounds with Highlands missing in the opening kicks. Highlands then converted on the final three shots while Central Hardin didn’t convert again to fall 4-2.
Highlands advances to the state final against the winner of Sacred Heart and Lexington Catholic at 7 p.m. on Nov. 1 at Lexington Sporting Club. The Bluebirds will follow the boys state final featuring Covington Catholic and Louisville St. Xavier.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here’s how Highlands beat Central Hardin to reach girls soccer state championship.
Reporting by Alex Harrison, Cincinnati Enquirer / Cincinnati Enquirer
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
