By: Amber Pennycuff
Franklin fell just shy by one goal to the Raptors in overtime tonight at Cheer Park. The 6-AAA Regional match-up now leads the Lady Rebs into the Sectional Tournament.
Amber Tanner was, certainly, an influential player during the game. The feisty Raptor nailed a hat-trick in tonight’s game, shooting all three goals. The entire team was pumped up and cheering following the game, after falling to Franklin in the last match-up. “I think we are just so pumped,” stated Tanner, “and whenever we come out to play we are just so ready.”
Noting on her hat-trick and rising up from a 2-score deficit, Tanner says it sparked the teams overall momentum. “Two goals down is the easiest to come back from and we did it.”
The Lady Rebels were the first to strike a goal as they dodged bullets dribbling the ball down the turf into the goal. It was Delany Griffin on the goal with a cross by Josie Deere. Jessie Harvey was on the catch with a block from Ravenwood to ensure the lead.
To put the Rebs up 2-0, Hannah Hewett was there on a penalty kick.
Tanner began to work her magic as she drove one right past the goalie to bring Ravenwood up 1-2 on a buzzer shot to enter the half.
And just as you thought the night couldn’t get any colder, Tanner was tallying up her scores and nailed her second shot of the night. The Lady Raptors were now up 2-2 with 4:29 left in the game, and overtime was in the horizons, yet again.
7:30 left in OT, Tanner completed her hat-trick and brought Ravenwood up 3-2 for the night to end the game. According to the Tanner, it was their time.
“We’ve already played Franklin twice and this was our third time, and we just knew it was our time to win.”
Franklin head coach Jimmy Burchett says the fact that the Lady Rebels gave up three goals in one-half, stings a bit. “They played really well, and I think we missed a shot or two after we were two up,” stated Burchett.
Also, the head coach said that the Lady Rebs need to play more possession ball. “When we possess the ball, and even tonight (when we possessed the ball) we played well,” noted Burchett, “especially the first half, we were moving the ball really well.”
He noted there were a couple of starters with injuries on the bench. “We are going to have to find out how many players we are going to have to play (for sectionals),” said Burchett.
On the opposite side of the field, head coach Jose Londono’s grin from ear to ear showed just how proud he was of his team tonight.
“When things look really bad, they never give up, work really hard, and that’s way more important than winning this game,” stated Londono.
Londono mentioned that it was mentally tough coming back from a 2-0 deficit in the game, but he reminds his team to focus on their abilities, not their opponents.
“We really have always talked about not worrying about the other team and just doing what we know what we can do,” noted Londono, “and we just have to keep playing and fighting hard.”
The number one advice that Londono gave his team: “have fun.”
“It’s still a game…we want to win…and we’re going to play and do the things we can…but not forget that we play better when we enjoy ourselves.”
The Williamson Source will keep you updated on the Division 1 Sectional Tournament and further tournaments to come.
