From the 14th minute to the final two minutes of regulation, Simon Kenton held a 1-0 lead in the 8th Region girls soccer title game, seemingly on track for the program’s first trip to the state tournament since 2020.
Since last season, the goal had been clear: win the region, especially with a senior class that had fallen short in the title game during their freshman and junior years.
But just a few minutes into the second overtime, heartbreak struck. Four-time defending champions South Oldham scored twice in the final moments to claim a 2-1 victory over the Lady Pioneers at Carroll County, earning their fifth straight regional title.
Leah Longstreet of South Oldham tied the game in the 79th minute, sending it into overtime. In the second OT, Ally Stahl delivered the game-winning goal with a shot into the top of the net.
Simon Kenton’s message after the game was simple: thank the seniors.
“The main message was to thank our seniors,” said head coach Hillary Johnson. “This is my fourth year with the program, so I’ve watched them grow from freshmen into the players they are today. It hurts because I wanted it for them. They’ve worked so hard since last year, all focused on a region championship.”
The senior class included starters Reese Johnson, Alexis Howard, and Ella Smith, each named to the 8th Region All-Tournament team, along with Meg Gadzala, Macie Bach, and Marren Goetz. In total, the team had ten seniors, who leave with a record of 61-23-11, four district titles, and three runner-up finishes in the region.
While the seniors led the way, freshman Aniah Zembrodt helped, scoring Simon Kenton’s lone goal. Even with momentum against them, South Oldham still knew that it only took one opportunity.
“Ironically, I thought we played poorly in the first half,” South Oldham head coach Kenny Burke said. “We were out of sorts, but we hung in there. At halftime, the girls were probably thinking thank goodness it’s 1-0. We settled in, and even in overtime, we felt confident. Ally Stahl stepped up and hit one of those shots you dream about.”
The matchup has become a South Oldham-Simon Kenton classic. The two programs have won the last 12 region championships and met six times in the title game since 2016. Simon Kenton defeated South Oldham 3-0 in the regular season, but for the second consecutive year, the Lady Dragons had the final say in the championship.
South Oldham will face the winner of the Fifth Region, Central Hardin, in the first round of the KHSAA state tournament.
Simon Kenton finishes the season at 20-2-3. Despite losing a talented senior class, the team will return five freshman starters, including goalkeeper Makenna Doherty, Aniah Zembrodt, Parker Goetz, Aliyah Howard, and Maisie Mulcahy.
“Those freshman got some really good experience this season. They learned a lot under those ten seniors,” Johnson said. “We have a whole slew of underclassmen, juniors, sophomores and freshman who are ready to step on the field next year. We will have high expectations again next year.”
Though their season ended in heartbreak, the Lady Pioneers leave with a legacy of perseverance and talent, a bright future, and the same big goals that drove them all season.