| Season Record 16-1-0 | |||||
| 2000 Alphabetical Roster | |||||
| # | Name | Class | Goals | Assists | Shootout |
| 23 | Lindsay Anna | 11th | – | – | – |
| 3 | Shana Bertetto | 10th | – | – | – |
| 25 | Kathy Brannen | 12th | – | 4 | – |
| 21 | Leah Bryan | 12th | – | 2 | – |
| 17 | Adrien Clodfelter | 11th | 1 | – | – |
| 14 | Emily Cobb | 11th | 4 | 6 | 1 |
| 18 | Emily DeYoung | 11th | 2 | 3 | – |
| 1 | Laurie Franklin | 12th | 7 | ||
| 8 | Amy Grubbs | 12th | – | – | – |
| 4 | Lindsay Hagan | 11th | – | – | – |
| 24 | Stephanie Hay | 9th | 2 | 2 | – |
| 2 | Michelle Huber | 9th | – | – | – |
| 7 | Kristal Menard | 12th | 25 | 4 | 1 |
| 30 | Katie Moore | 9th | – | 1 | – |
| 9 | Beth Morris | 10th | – | – | – |
| 20 | Amanda Nivens | 11th | – | – | – |
| 16 | Melissa Rabold | 11th | – | – | – |
| 28 | Andrea Schott | 11th | – | 1 | – |
| 12 | Jennifer Sibert | 11th | 8 | 14 | 1 |
| 26 | Anna Simpson | 11th | – | 1 | – |
| 10 | Ally Tucker | 9th | 2 | 1 | – |
| 11 | Jennifer Wilson | 11th | 6 | 2 | – |
| 19 | Lauren Wilson | 11th | 9 | 8 | – |
| 15 | Claire Workinger | 9th | – | – | – |
Holy Cross State Final Game
SOHS over Holy Cross 2-0
Lofty goals for a team in a “rebuilding” year. Ambitious indeed for a team that graduated 9 seniors, including an All American & Miss Kentucky Soccer, and four others who were All State players including the entire defensive backfield. At years end, except for an early season overtime 1-2 loss to then #2 ranked Notre Dame, mark this season’s goal list as: MISSION ACCOMPLISHED !! This South Oldham Lady Dragon squad continues the tradition and THREE-PEATs in winning the Kentucky State Championship by beating Covington Holy Cross 2-0 at Rawlings Stadium on the campus of Georgetown College.
As is often the case, the players seemed ready and confident as they stood before us for the player introductions, much more so than some of us fans as evidenced by the fact that there was more than one soccer-dad pacing the walk way above the seats right up to game time. The starters took the field with South getting first touch and a chance to make history as the only team to win three consecutive State Titles in Kentucky Girls High School Soccer.
The Dragons took control early with seniors Kristal Menard & Kathy Brannen, along with the junior Wilson twins (Jennifer and Lauren) pushing up and getting 3 good shots in the first 5 minutes but two were wide right and the other high. Holy Cross then found their game and utilized the long kick to advance offensively. The South Oldham defense continued to play forward this game, as they have most of the year, which made for some interesting runs for the Indians, but they were continually tracked down and reversed by SOHS defenders.
Tucker’s team continued to dominate offensively and threatened when Lauren Wilson off a cross from junior Emily Cobb had her shot blocked over the end line giving up a corner by junior Jennifer Sibert which was headed off the crossbar by Menard. Cobb followed a few minutes later with another pass, this time to Sibert who fired a shot at midfield just right of the goal and just missed by the diving Menard. Then with 14:03 left Cobb set up Menard who made sure this one found the net giving the Lady Dragons a 1-0 lead…
The defense continued to save, clear, and reverse the Holy Cross attack. Junior Anna Simpson, who’s head is as valuable a defensive weapon as Menard’s is an offensive weapon, repeatedly headed out or stepped in front of her opponent to win ball after ball. Junior Lindsay Hagan and senior Amy Grubbs thwarted numerous Indian runs and there was some solid midfield defense by Cobb, junior Emily DeYoung, junior Andrea Schott, and Sibert. Holy Cross’s only real threat in the half came off a cross from the right that skipped through
to the far side of the field where a sharp shot taken was promptly picked up by senior goalie Laurie Franklin. Despite their domination, the half ended with South Oldham up just 1-0 and the outcome still in question.
Holy Cross came to this final having only lost 3 games all year, one of which was a 2-1 defeat to South Oldham, and opened the second half determined to show why they belonged among Kentucky’s elite. Their added effort payed dividends as they earned more time on the offensive end getting 2 long shots in the first 6 minutes and another 90 seconds later, but all were easily picked up by goalie Franklin.
The Dragons threatened next when Sibert passed to an open Lauren Wilson at midfield who fired a rocket, but straight at the awaiting goalkeeper. The Indians answered with another long shot which was no problem for Franklin. Officially, Holy Cross would take 6 shots in the second half, but several were long balls and not serious threats. Their first real scoring opportunities came near the midpoint of the half when Franklin stepped in to catch a free kick from the right side followed seconds later on a great play by Hagan when she deflected a shot fired from close in on the left side of the field. The Indians also attempted a header off a long lob pass but it went wide left.
The Lady Dragons were still only up 1-0 and desparately needed a score to put the Indians away. With approximately 12 minutes remaining Jennifer Wilson attempted a header off a Sibert corner that went wide left, then she passed to Menard a few plays later who took the ball to the middle and fired only to have her shot picked up by the goalie. Then with just under 9 minutes, Menard took a high bouncing pass from Lauren Wilson and used her left foot to rocket in the insurance goal her team needed for a 2-0 lead.
Holy Cross managed one last scoring threat, and perhaps their best one, creating one of the few holes in the SOHS defense when an Indian took the ball deep left, weaved between two Dragon defenders and fired a close in rocket from just left of the goal only to have it stopped on a great pick up by Franklin. The game was virtually over when senior Kathy Brannen broke free on the right to fire the last shot of the game that hit the side of the goal.
History was made! South Oldham wins 2-0, finishing the season with 21 straight wins, an overall 24-1 record, their 3rd title in a row, and 5 of the last 6 championships. It is always a bittersweet moment when a team celebrates a Championship season, but yet must say goodbye to it’s beloved seniors. Kathy Brannen leaves as the fastest weapon on the team. Leah Bryan moves on knowing she never gave less than 110% effort in a game. Amy Grubbs graduates as the National Guard Player of the Game. Laurie Franklin took an already stellar SOHS team reputation for goalies to an even higher level. And Kristal Menard will graduate having been the best “finisher” of her class I’ve ever seen. Best of Luck to all of our seniors and thank you for maintaining and leaving the South Oldham Lady Dragons with a Championship legacy…