The Boyd-Buchanan girls’ soccer team has already made history this season, but coach Todd Ledbetter’s Lady Bucs are hungry for more.
After winning the school’s first district title last week, they moved a step closer to another championship with a Region 3-A/AA semifinal victory at home on Tuesday.
Boyd-Buchanan, the 5-A/AA champion, defeated District 6 runner-up East Ridge 7-1 and will host Grace Academy in the region final Thursday at 7 p.m.
“Coming into this season, our goal was to be in the district finals,” Ledbetter said.
“We reached that, and we won it. I asked them what our motivation was for this week. I told them for me, it’s respect. I think that’s what’s pushing them, and what’s going to be pushing them on Thursday.”
East Ridge opened the region semifinal in a unique defensive formation, and it took some time for the Lady Bucs to adjust. Once they did, however, the goals came quickly, and resulted in a 4-0 halftime lead.
“It took us a little while to pick our intensity up, but once we did, the offense started clicking and we started putting some goals in,” Ledbetter said. “We talked to them at halftime about shooting from outside and following up on the keeper.”
In the second half, Boyd-Buchanan scored three more times in a span of about 10 minutes. The Lady Bucs defense, which allowed just four goals in district play all season, gave up just one score to East Ridge with 18:05 remaining.
“Our defense has done well all season, and they did well tonight,” Ledbetter said. “We talked about not stabbing and making sure we stayed in front. They had a great shot on their goal, but I think it was a little bit unlucky for us to not end up with a clean sheet.”
Freshman Emily Hauke recorded a hat trick for Boyd-Buchanan, while Taylor Barber and Emma Rogers scored two goals apiece. Now 13-5-2, the victory also tied the mark for the program’s highest-ever win total, a record the Lady Bucs will look to claim on Thursday night.
Their opponent for the region final will be Grace Academy, a 4-0 winner over Hixson in Tuesday’s other semifinal. Boyd-Buchanan owns two victories over the Lady Golden Eagles this season, 3-2 during the regular season and 1-0 in the district final, but is well aware of how tough Thursday’s challenge will be.
“If we win Thursday, we would get the all-time win record, and I think that mark is pushing them,” Ledbetter said. “It’ll be exciting, but I know we’ll have to regroup tomorrow and get them ready for a dogfight. It’s tough to beat anybody three times, and I know they’re going to be a force with the revenge factor on their side.”
(E-mail Jaime Barrett at jaimenbarrett@gmail.com)