GALENA – Bedford North Lawrence advanced to the Class 3A sectional final with a thrilling victory over New Albany in sudden-death penalty kicks during boys high school soccer action on Wednesday night.
After a scoreless battle in regulation (80 minutes) and two overtime sections (14 minutes), the Stars won 4-2 on penalty kicks, with Parker Beeson blasting home the clincher to set off an emotional celebration, to reach the final against Jeffersonville.
Charles Engle and Joe Lutgrens converted the first two penalty kicks for the Bulldogs (6-11) before BNL goalie Owen Williams made a crucial save in the third round. New Albany’s fourth shot hit the crossbar and bounced away.
BNL’s successful shots came from Noah Childers, Austin Harms and Ayden Patton before Beeson belted the winner as the Stars recorded their first postseason win since 2021.
“I asked the kids if they wanted it,” BNL coach Ryan Otis said of the pressure-packed penalty kicks. “I wanted kids that were confident to take them.”
New Albany owed an overwhelming 22-1 advantage in shots.
“We were under a lot of pressure,” Otis said. “That was the game plan, to sit back and help defensively, counter up top. We absorbed a lot, bent a few times but never broke, kept turning them back. We never gave up. Owen had four or five saves that were really good. He had his game of the year. It was a good time for him to step up.
“Intensity and effort has to be the base. If we have that, we can always make something happen. We didn’t let up.”
BNL (6-9-1) avenged a 4-1 regular-season loss to New Albany on Sept. 4.
The Red Devils (14-3-1) reached the final with a tense 2-1 victory over Floyd Central (7-9-2) in the first semifinal. Shlomo Tshimbalanga (31:23 in the second half) and Xavier Cortes (14:15 in the first half) had the goals for Jeffersonville. New Albany’s Brad Demberg scored with 4:36 left.
BNL and Jeffersonville will collide in the final on Saturday at 2 p.m. The winner will advance to the regional semifinal and host the Evansville Harrison sectional champion on Oct. 15. BNL has never won a sectional championship. Jeffersonville won the regular-season clash 7-0 on Sept. 20.
“That’s what we play for,” Otis said. “We will embrace the chance. It will be a tough test. They’re very good, very fast and physical. We will have our hands full. We will go back with the same intensity we had tonight and see what we can do.”
