East Ridge and Red Bank played to the ultimate duel in soccer Friday night at Red Bank: penalty kicks. After a back and forth district 6-A/AA semifinal could not be decided in regulation or overtime, the Lady Pioneers took the victory 3-2 on penalty kicks.
The East Ridge offense created chances throughout the game, with their first coming from the penalty spot in the tenth minute, but the ball sailed over the crossbar. The Lady Lions responded when KiKi Evers took a pass from the midfield all the way to the goal and slipped the ball past the Lady Pioneers keeper.
East Ridge failed to capitalize against a stingy Red Bank defense, but earned their second penalty kick at the end of the first half. This time, Kayla Deck banged one off the left post and into the right side of the net to even the score.
“That was huge for us,” East Ridge coach Jeremy McIntyre said. “Going into the half 1-1 gave us more confidence going into the second half. We knew this was going to be a grudge match between two evenly matched teams.”
Defense reigned supreme in the second half, with both teams fighting back chances. Senior Katie Sneed came up big for Red Bank in the goal, racking up seven saves, as East Ridge fired 16 shots throughout the game.