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GEORGETOWN, Ky. – Courtney Clark was not the team leader in goals heading into the state quarterfinals last week.
Her 10 goals this season prior to Notre Dame’s game against Bourbon County on Oct. 29 had her second on the team to junior striker Heather Shelton, who had 11.
But after five goals in her last two games, including both of the Pandas’ tallies in a 2-0 win over Daviess County in a state semifinal at Georgetown College on Thursday, the senior striker/midfielder now leads the team by four.
“She’s a senior, and I think she’s just turned it up,” Notre Dame coach Sara Raaker said. “She has one of the biggest hearts on the team and she’s just stepping up at the right time.
“She’s always had these opportunities, unfortunately during the regular season she was just missing.”
Clark had two scoring chances in the first 11 minutes. She had an opening an fired a hard shot that was fielded cleanly by sophomore goalkeeper Jackie Lohmann at the seven minute mark.
Less than four minutes later, Lohmann had to make a high-quality save to deny a header by Clark.
But minutes later, Clark took control of a loose ball inside the goalkeeper box and her shot was denied by Lohmann. The rebound bounced right back to Clark, who put it in the net at 13:44 of the first half.
“(My teammates) have been able to get it to me, and I’ve been trying my hardest to score,” said Clark, whose first choice for next year is Centre College.
Neither team had many scoring chances during the remainder of the first half, but Notre Dame did pick up the intensity again just before halftime.
Shelton’s shot from in deep off of centering pass by sophomore midfielder Ellyn Abdelghany went wide with four minutes left. Then senior midfielder Jordan Zumdick put a strong header on net in the final minute, but it was caught cleanly.
Clark again challenged the Daviess County net early in the second half, driving and firing for a quality chance, but Lohmann again denied her.
Senior midfielder Torrie Lange centered a pass to Clark minutes later, and her shot was partially deflected by Lohmann and trickled wide of the net.
So again Clark had come close to scoring on two chances in the half. And she would again have success on her third attempt.
Thanks a dazzling pass from Lange and sophomore midfielder Chandler Clark – Courtney’s cousin – and Courtney Clark again found herself near the goal with the ball. Clark’s initial shot was again saved, but she was there to stick in the rebound, making it 2-0.
“She knows that if you don’t capitalize on these opportunities, it could make the difference in not advancing,” Lange said. “I tell her that you’re going to miss a few shots, but don’t keep you head down. Keep it up and keep shooting. Tonight she really outworked and outplayed the defense.
One-third of Clark’s 15 goals have come in these last two games.
“I’m not saying all the other games aren’t important – they are – but I think it comes down to not playing again, so I think it’s that much more of a drive,” Clark said.
Notre Dame advances to the state championship game for the fifth time in school history, and will play the Sacred Heart-Lexington Catholic winner at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday here.
The Pandas won their only state title in 2004 under current coach Sara Raaker, who despite the win was not thrilled with some aspects of her team’s play.
“We got into a mentality of trying to get rid of the ball as quickly as we could,” Raaker said. “We weren’t being patient and we weren’t playing composed.”
HALFTIME: 1-0. GOALS: ND—Co. Clark 2. SHUTOUT: Voskuhl (5 saves). RECORDS: Notre Dame 23-3-1, Daviess County 20-4.
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