?? The Cinderella dust fell on Bardstown's finest last night at Lafayette. 

Score and more via the Courier-Journal's Jason Frakes ~

courier-journal.com/soccer-khsaa-louisville-sacred-heart-bethlehem

Little Bethlehem shocked soccer's cognescenti last night in a high scoring match victory over second ranked Sacred Heart. 

Congratulations Banshees! ?

Morehead State Soccer commit Carlie Thurmond, the tourney MVP, capped off her high school career with two goals in the first half. 

The Valkyries rallied in the second on goals by Ava Burke and Mia Lancaster, and held a 3-2 advantage with under six minutes to play.  

The Banshees battled back for the win on goals by sisters Ashlyn and Tessa Miles.  

Bethlehem joins 2010 champions St. Henry as the second "All A" team to win the title in the 32 year history of the tournament.  

#5 Bethlehem: 22-4-2

#2 Sacred Heart: 20-3-3

Congrats to the underdogs!  Amazing when a small school wins this championship. 

Do you believe in MIRACLES!!!

I have literally been on cloud 9 for the Banshees since Saturday night.  If there is a local screenwriter boy could I tell them a story they wouldn't believe!  Cue the music!  

Here we go:  there was a small co-ed catholic school outside Louisville, Ky located in Bardstown, KY!  More known for its Bourbon not for its athletic teams.  It's also known for being the town that is famous for having the home from the state song "My Old Kentucky Home".  Population is around 13,000 people in this tiny community.  I realize that the school being private does pull from other areas around Bardstown but don't spoil this story!  The school itself being co-ed has an enrollment of around 304 students from 9-12 grades, law of averages puts the girl population around 150 students in the entire High School.  They did have a nice 5th Region run winning 4 straight Region titles back in 2015 - 2018, making it to the semifinals in '15 & '18 and losing in the 1st round in '16 & '17 in the State Tournament.

In regards to 2023, when I started the Top 10 halfway into the season, I didn't have Bethlehem on my radar yet.  But then on Sep 2nd that all changed.  Bethlehem knocked off Defending State Champ South Oldham 1-0 and then beat a good Frederick Douglas team on Sep 6th....I quickly put Bethlehem in the Top 10 at #8.  Looking into this team I really liked what I saw.  Senior Carlie Thurmond become my favorite player to follow....She was scoring every game.  She surpassed her cousin to be the All-Time scoring leader at Bethlehem.  She has been a beast all 4 years at Bethlehem with a crazy 60 goal stat line back in her Sophomore year!  Bethlehem did take their licks especially at the Lex Cath Invitational losing twice that week to Assumption (2-3) and Sacred Heart (1-4).  Earlier in the year they also lost to Lex Cath and Elizabethtown.  Bethlehem did have some success holding up a trophy for winning the All A Classic in Ky by knocking off Walton Verona 3-0.  In all 5 All "A" classic games Bethlehem NEVER conceded a goal!  This team was on a mission.  They got some redemption in the Region 5 finals by knocking off ETown who beat them earlier in the season.  Carlie (33 goals) has 2 teammates as well that has contributed significantly in sisters Senior Ashlyn Miles (24 goals) and Tessa Miles (23 goals).  

Sacred Heart the goliath of soccer programs in the last 20 years.  Winners of 7 State Titles, last one being in 2020.  Is a High School that is always bringing state contending teams in whatever sport it might be:  Basketball, Field Hockey, Soccer, Swimming.....heck if they wanted to play football I betcha they would be good.  They state on their school website that they are owners of 107 State Title Sports teams in their history.  I don't think you could have a more dominating school in KY that could have a more impressive resume.  Sacred Heart coming into the State Title game only had 2 blemishes on their record and 1 of those was a team from Indiana.  The only KY team to beat Sacred Heart was Lex Cath during the 2nd game of the Lex Cath Invitational.  Sacred Heart has been led all season long by their Jr striker Lilly Lund.  

OK, you got the backstory now let's play the game.  The setting at Lafayette was extremely cloudy but temperatures were a nice high 50's at kickoff.  The game started with a nice fly over from the local military jets, unfortunately you were able to hear them but not see them.  But a great gesture by the KHSAA.

Game on.....Sacred Heart and Bethlehem started the game feeling each other out.  Sacred Heart had a few nice opportunities to start the game.  Bethlehem still trying to make some things happen to threaten for a shot.  Luckily the magic started with roughly 7 minutes left in the half there was a SWEET through ball that split like 2 or 3 defenders for Carlie to make a run towards the ball and out run the defenders to make it a 1 v 1 against Sacred Hearts keeper, where she slipped it past the keeper to find the back of the net, Bethlehem 1 Sacred Heart 0.

A couple minutes later Bethlehem throws a really long pass down the right side of the field.  Sacred Hearts defender with their back to any attackers thought she was clear to kick a back pass to the keeper for the clear.  Unfortunately for Sacred Heart....you guessed it Carlie Thurmond was salivating when the back pass was a little weak and she might be able to beat the keeper to the ball....you saw it was going to be super close.  Sure enough Carlie was able to barely get a toe on it to slip it underneath the diving keeper to get the ball to head towards the goal which it did!  Bethlehem 2 Sacred Heart 0 (side note:  this goal was Carlie Thurmond's 150th goal in her career!!!!)

Halftime happens....on twitter I gotta love the tweet by Courier Journal Jason Frakes posted "I'm no girls soccer expert, but it feels like this would be a significant upset should the Banshees hold on".  Jason you were absolutely right....this is a Cinderella story in the making if they hold on.

Second half starts with Sacred Heart again getting their shots at a rate to 3 or 4 to 1 to Bethlehem shots....you could feel like Sacred Heart is going to eventually gets some goals, you just didn't know if they were going to get enough of them.

Finally only 13 minutes into the 2nd half Sacred Heart dribbled down the left sideline and then with a nice cross, Lila Work was able to connect a nice shot to cut the lead in half.  Bethlehem 2 Sacred Heart 1

Fast forward to the 73rd minute with hopefully you holding onto your hat.  Lily Lund was able to connect with Mia Lancaster who was able to slip one past the Bethlehem goalie to make the game tied.  Bethlehem 2 Sacred Heart 2

One minute later Sacred Heart was able to get another quick goal by Ava Birk to get their first lead of the night.  Sacred Heart 3 Bethlehem 2

To most teams with only 5 or 6 minutes left this could have been the dagger to get this small school Bethlehem to pack it in and say well it was a great effort but the big bad bully got us.

Ashlyn Miles had other thoughts!  Sacred Heart keeper punts up the middle of the field, the wind must have hung it up to not get much distance.  Bethlehem got a head on it to punch it up to Ashlyn Miles who dribbled a little bit to get to the top of the box and find the bottom left corner to tie this sucker back up.  Bethlehem 3 Sacred Heart 3

Well, I guess we are probably going to head to OT and possibly PK shootout.

Once again WRONG!!!!  Bethlehem still pressing on Sacred Hearts defense and the ball tries to get cleared, but instead Tess Miles collects it take a couple easy touches and from 29 yards out delivers a bullet line drive to the upper left 90 corner which I gotta believe caught the Sacred Heart keeper by surprised.  Bethlehem 4 Sacred Heart 3

3 minutes later the horn blows, Bethlehem did it, they did it!!!  What a season!

This season will go down as one of the greatest Girls Soccer seasons of all time.  Like the 1954 Milan Indians (aka Hoosiers).

Scoreboard stats:

Bethlehem keeper had 10 saves gave up 3 goals

Sacred Heart keeper had 3 saves gave up 4 goals

It was stated at the end of the game with roughly 4 minutes to go that Sacred Heart had like 26 shots to Bethlehem's 6. I guess like they say "Quality over Quantity".