Playing in their final soccer game Tuesday night at the James A. Cawood field, Harlan County seniors Amelia Kazy, Callie Smith and Kaydie Coots made it a night to remember.
Meanwhile, freshman Adriana Rowe further established herself as the future of the Lady Black Bears’ program with another high-octane offensive performance.
Kazy, Smith and Coots each scored a goal, and Rowe scored an eye-popping eight times en route to a lopsided, 13-5 win over Knox Central.
“I’m completely over the moon,” assistant coach Emily Bryant said after the game. “I’m happy for them on Senior Night. We’re going to hate to see them go.”
Bryant was in charge of the team with coach Hannah Pittman out due to illness.
The three seniors scored during a span of just over minutes during the second half, including Coots’ first career goal on a penalty kick.
Bryant moved Coots from her defensive midfielder position in order to provide her with the opportunity to score a goal for the Lady Black Bears.
“Kaydie was just hanging back, and there was just no way for her to come all the up the field, so it kind of clicked in my head when we were stalled for the PK. I flagged down the ref and we let her take that PK.
“We spoke with our seniors before the game and we talked about trying to get all three of them to score. It’s really a miracle that all three of our seniors scored.”
Rowe, who has scored a school-record 36 goals during her first season of high school soccer, assisted on the Lady Black Bears’ first goal of the night. Rowe’s pass to junior Rileigh Duff caromed off a Knox Central defender and Duff finished for the first of her two goals on the night.
After consecutive goals by Knox Central standout Miley Olmstead, Rowe scored three straight goals to stake the Lady Black Bears to a 4-2 lead at halftime.
Rowe scored again less than two minutes into the second half, followed by Duff’s second tally of the night. Two more goals by Rowe made it 8-2 and effectively secured the victory with 24 minutes remaining.
Olmstead scored the ensuing three goals for Knox Central, but Rowe and her senior teammates tacked on five unanswered tallies, and the Lady Black Bears capped their regular season at 6-7.
Bryant spoke highly of Rowe following the game.
“We are so thankful to have her fighting for goals every game on the (front) line,” Bryant said. “She is an imperative part of our team, we could not function the same without her.
“She was on it all night. She never stopped. She has a drive that I think every one of our athletes should strive to have. She is a dedicated athlete and it shows on the field.”
Bryant also singled out Smith for her unselfish play and significant contribution to the team’s success.
“Callie is a very humble athlete and she doesn’t like to be in the spotlight,” Bryant said. “She doesn’t like to show out. She assisted on two of Adriana’s goals tonight and that was a big thing.”
Freshman Ashton Marlow had a team-high three assists for the Lady Bears, and junior goalkeeper Willow Peace was credited with 10 saves.
The Lady Bears will compete in the district tournament Oct. 12 at Bell County.