It was a night 14 years in the making and it took two overtime periods before it was official.
Cal Givens’ beautiful free kick from long distance with 3:16 remaining in the second overtime sent the University Heights Academy Blazers to a 2-1 win over host Henderson County in the Boys’ Region 2 Soccer Tournament championship Thursday night.
Givens’ golden goal gives UHA its first boys’ region soccer championship since 2011 and makes it a region double dip as the Blazers joined the Lady Blazers as 2025 region champions.
After a defensive struggle for most of the first half, Jack Cavanah gave the Blazers (18-6) a 1-0 lead with 5:34 left in the opening half. The ball was sent into the box and Cavanah found it at his feet and pushed it past the keeper. It was only the third goal of the year for Cavanah, but certainly it was his biggest.
That lead held until halftime, but Henderson (10-11) struck quickly in the second half.
The Colonels were able to put together a run and got a shot past Blazers’ keeper Hayden Fitzsimmons in the opening 3:00 to tie the game 1-1.
The rest of the match saw both teams get several good scoring chances, but neither could take advantage.
Henderson nearly took the lead near the 7-minute mark of regulation, but a shot sailed over the cross bar.
The first overtime was played without many opportunities but a Henderson foul in the second overtime set up the Blazers’ winning chance.
Givens’ shot from well outside the 18 box was perfectly placed and sent the UHA team and fans into a frenzy. It was the third win in a row and the eighth in nine matches for the Blazers.
According to the KHSAA website, UHA will travel to Owensboro to take on the Red Devils at 7 p.m. Monday in the first round of the state tournament. Owensboro knocked off Daviess County 4-1 in the Region 3 championship.
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