Owensboro players Drew Kurz (18), Avery Martin (13) and Lily Nieman (10).

OWENSBORO, KY — A little more than a month after losing to Meade County during the regular season, Owensboro High School got another chance against the Green Wave Monday night. This time, with a championship berth at stake, the Devils made the most of it.

Owensboro defeated Meade County 3-1 at Deer Park Field, powered by two first-half goals from Amelia Calhoun and a second-half finish from Ella Hall. The win sends the Devils to Wednesday’s 3rd Region Girls Soccer Championship, where they will face Owensboro Catholic.

The result marked a turnaround from the teams’ September 16 meeting. Owensboro lost that regular-season game after playing Owensboro Catholic the previous night, and head coach Sarah Poole said fatigue played a major role in the performance.

This time, Poole wanted her players to focus on how they play now rather than dwell on the earlier result.

“They’re a good team. Don’t get me wrong,” Poole said of Meade County. “But we didn’t have the energy that we had tonight against them.”

The Devils brought that energy into Monday’s matchup and built an advantage that would carry them through to the final.

Calhoun Sets the Tone

Owensboro struck early when Trinity Johnson set up Calhoun for the opening goal. Calhoun found the net again later in the first half, this time with Hall providing the assist, giving the Devils a two-goal cushion.

Calhoun finished with two goals and an assist, contributing to all three of the Devils’ goals.

Poole praised Calhoun’s work in central midfield, pointing to the effort she puts in beyond the scoring column.

“She, at the center, does a lot of the dirty work that needs to be done,” Poole said. “When other girls are tired, she usually picks up the pace.”

Poole said Calhoun’s two first-half goals were a relief, especially while Owensboro was still working through stretches when the team struggled to figure things out.

Hall Extends the Lead

Hall added Owensboro’s third goal in the second half, with Calhoun recording the assist. The goal gave the Devils more breathing room as they worked to close out the match.

Meade County responded later in the half when Carmelah Dore scored from the top of the penalty area, cutting the deficit to 3-1. But Owensboro held its advantage and finished the night with a two-goal victory.

Goalkeeper Hayley Sikes made seven saves for the Devils. Owensboro recorded nine shots on goal compared with seven for Meade County. The Devils also earned seven corner kicks and four direct kicks, while Meade County had two corner kicks and two direct kicks.

Although the score favored Owensboro, Poole saw room for improvement in the second half.

“Honestly, we still looked a little slow in the second half,” she said. “But we’re happy with the win. I mean, I’m not going to complain about it.”

The Devils had done enough to secure the result and move on to the next stage of their season.

Another Championship Opportunity

Monday’s victory gives Owensboro a chance to compete for the 3rd Region title on Wednesday. It will be the second consecutive year the Devils have reached a championship game, a milestone Poole said reflects the work her players have put in throughout the season.

“It’s nice,” Poole said. “I think these girls worked really hard to get to where we’re at, and second year in a row getting to a championship feels good. We’d like to get the win this time.”

Owensboro will face Owensboro Catholic on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Deer Park Field, with the regional championship on the line. The Devils now have an opportunity to finish their regional tournament run with a title.

SNAPSHOT

FINAL
Owensboro 3, Meade County 1

OWENSBORO HIGH SCHOOL
Amelia Calhoun: 2 goals, 1 assist
Ella Hall: 1 goal, 1 assist
Trinity Johnson: 1 assist
Hayley Sikes: 7 saves

MEADE COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Carmelah Dore: 1 goal

KEY STATS
Shots on goal: Owensboro 9, Meade County 7
Corner kicks: Owensboro 7, Meade County 2
Direct kicks: Owensboro 4, Meade County 2

NEXT UP
Owensboro @ Owensboro Catholic
3rd Region Girls Soccer Championship
Wednesday, October 21 | 7:00 p.m.
Deer Park Elementary Field