With a 6-2 loss to the North Laurel Lady Jaguars in the championship game of this year’s 13th Region tournament, the Whitley County Lady Colonels concluded their 2024 season with an overall record of 9 wins and 8 losses.
The Lady Jags scored the first two goals of Thursday evening’s regional championship contest, played at the Whitley County High School soccer complex. With 17:20 remaining in the first half, senior Autumn Sawyers scored on a penalty kick for the Colonels, but North scored again about five minutes later to take a 3-1 lead into halftime.
Sawyers drilled a shot into the crossbar early in the second half, and teammate Cali Nugent was there with the follow-up to score a goal and bring Whitley back to within one, 3-2. The Jaguars responded with three more goals before the final whistle, however, advancing to this year’s KHSAA State Tournament with a 6-2 region championship victory.
2024 ended up being a historic year for the Whitley County girls soccer program, with Autumn Sawyers becoming the school’s all-time leading goal scorer and the team making their first-ever appearance in a 13th Region championship tournament. The Lady Colonels were victorious over district rivals Corbin and South Laurel this season., and they defeated 50th District champions Middlesboro, 8-2, to earn their spot in Thursday’s region championship game.
