Published: October 17, 2008 10:39 am      

Middlesboro ends North's season, 4-2

Lady Jaguars fall in girls' soccer district tournament

MIDDLESBORO—North Laurel’s season came to an end Tuesday, falling 4-2 to Middlesboro in the girl’s 31st District soccer tournament.

“The girls showed heart,” coach Naomi Puskar said. “We wanted to make a comeback against them. The first time we played them (a 4-1 loss on Sept. 16) we had a lot of injured players, so we wanted to make a good showing.”

Middlesboro (13-1-0) took a 2-0 lead in the first half on goals by Samantha Coleman in the 6th and 26th minutes. The Lady Jaguars (8-12-0) gave Coleman took much space when she had the ball, and paid for it. Coleman had two other good chances that missed just wide.

North Laurel started to get its offense going late in the first half, and in the 37th minute, Kayla Bargo sent a throw-in to Lindsey Evans, who fired a shot that keeper Emily Pannocchia made the save on, but couldn’t control the rebound. Gloria Hensley followed up, but the Middlesboro keeper came up big again.

Two minutes later, Middlesboro was whistled for a hand ball in the box, giving North Laurel a penalty kick. Bargo converted from the spot, and the Lady Jaguars trailed 2-1 at the half.

Middlesboro tried to build on its lead early in the second half when Natalie Dubin fired a shot that beat keeper Neida Lundy, but Corey Huff was there to clear the ball off the line.

Dubin had another good chance in the 45th minute, and Shaleesha Coleman in the 46th, but Lundy again came up big for the Lady Jags to keep the score at 2-1.

Bargo sent a long ball toward the Middlesboro goal in the 47th minute that both Evans and Rachael Lewis ran onto. Pannocchia came out to try and make the save, but Lewis touched the ball past her, then raced onto it and put it in the back of the net, tying the game at 2-2.

But that would be all the goals North Laurel would muster, even though Evans and Lewis continued to making dangerous runs down the left and right side. Dubin scored in the 59th and 68th minutes to make the final 4-2.

“We pushed hard until the end,” Puskar said. “Overall the girls played great. We had a good season and gave it our best shot.”

Middlesboro faced South Laurel last night for the district title.