WILLIAMSBURG — Kayla Bargo’s North Laurel Lady Jaguars had a bull’s eye on their back throughout the season, beginning this fall as the 13th Region’s top-ranked team, and never wavered under pressure.
The Lady Jaguars (11-3) lived up to the preseason hype in fine fashion, capturing the 13th Region Girls’ Tournament championship with an impressive 6-2 win against Whitley County.
Thursday’s title game matchup marked the 20th meeting between the two teams, and North Laurel kept its perfect record alive against the Lady Colonels, improving to 20-0 all-time against Whitley County.
North Laurel wasted no time taking control of the match, scoring two minutes into the contest behind Presley Thompson’s goal off a corner kick.
Thompson added another goal during the 15th minute to push her team’s lead to 2-0.
The Lady Colonels got in the scoreboard during the 22nd minute thanks to Autumn Sawyers converting her penalty kick attempt to make the score, 2-1.
North Laurel answered six minutes later as Lauren Crouch’s goal during the 28th minute gave the Lady Jaguars a 3-1 edge.
Whitley County (9-8) continued to fight in the second half as Cali Nugent’s goal at the 45-minute mark made the score, 3-2.
North Laurel held a one-goal edge until the 59th minute when Haley Combs’ goal gave her team a 4-2 lead. Crouch added her second goal of the game eight minutes later to make the score, 5-2, while Thompson’s third goal of the match, sealed the win with two minutes remaining.
Members of the All-Tournament team that played in the region title game were North Laurel’s Haley Combs, Lauren Crouch, Presley Thompson and Sarah Watkins; Whitley County’s Autumn Sawyers and Cali Nugent.
