Greenwood Lady Gators crowned 4th region soccer champions for first time since 2020

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Greenwood and Bowling Green have been meeting up in the 4th region title game for at least 25 consecutive years, but the Lady Purples have been the contending champions for the past four years.

Just last week, these squads competed for the 14th district title in a game that stood at 0-0 at the end of regulation.

But Thursday nights matchup would look much different than a scoreless game starting in 21st minute when Lady Purple Zippi Willgruber scored off a header for Bowling Green.

The reigning champions would hold onto the 1-0 lead after halftime until a free kick from Landry Campbell leads to another header, this time by Greenwood’s Caroline Drexel.

It’s a tie game with 25 minutes left to play.

And scoring the winning goal is a… Gator!

Campbell sends the ball to the back of the net and Greenwood is going to the state tournament for the first time in five years, taking down Bowling Green 2-1.

“ These girls work hard, even in off season,” head coach Driton Hyseni said. “We trained and I think the only break I had as a coach was in dead period, but they believed, they worked hard and they listened, and we got the outcome we wanted.”

“It means so much,” senior Landry Campbell said. “We’ve been working for it all season and this is my senior year and it’s the first time we’ve won region, so I’m just really glad it feels so good and we’re going to make it as far as we can and stay and keep going every game.”