Boyle County was eager to prove its practice had paid off this season.

The Rebels defeated Garrard County 8-1 in the 45th District tournament semifinals at Danville on Tuesday, improving their record to 10-9 on the season.

For the full 80 minutes, the Rebels peppered the Garrard County goal. But it wasn’t until midway through the first half that Boyle scored.

Amanda Cossentine scored the first goal of the game 20 minutes in, and then the floodgates opened. Abby Carter scored two minutes later, and by halftime, the Rebels had five goals to their tally.

“Especially coming into the postseason, we’ve been working a lot on the simple passes,” Carter said. “Then when those simple passes give us a gap we just go for it.”

Carter was joined by Lindsey Warriner, Abby Howard and Nicole Mingey on the score sheet in the first half.

That balance has been there all season for the Rebels: After Chelsea Elmore’s 24 goals this year, no player has more than 10 but five have at least five goals.

“We just work on a lot of combination goals during practices and I think it really benefits us on the field,” Elmore said.

Carter added that the team has been going at it during practice which has turned into results on the field.

“At practice we work a lot on just scrimmaging play and getting after it with each other,” she said. “That helps us, knowing that we have good competition. We know we can play against each other, that gives us confidence in games to go at it. We know we work well together as a team.”

Carter, Mingey and Elmore all scored in the second half to put the game away.

Defensively, the Rebels allowed just one goal — from Marianna Cortez — during the semifinal matchup against Garrard.

“I think our younger ones picked up how our defense works really quickly,” Elmore said.
Carter agreed.

“(Freshmen) Sophie Witmer and Alexus Phegley have definitely stepped up to the game,” Carter said. “In practices we challenge them a lot. Probably like two weeks in, they got the hang of it, they were ready. They’re all in now.”

Now, the Rebels turn their attention to cross-town foe Danville, who defeated Lincoln County 5-2 in the other semifinal game on Tuesday.

“It’ll definitely be a good challenge,” Carter said. “Coming into the postseason we’ve had a pep talk with ourselves, about how it’s a whole new season and we’re all 0-0. We got through Garrard and Danville is going to be a great game and we’ll definitely get a great matchup in regions. I think we’re ready, we’ve been working hard all season and I think we’re at the place we should be at for postseason.”