Bowling Green renamed 4th Region boys’ soccer champions after KHSAA calls for replay of penalty kicks

BOWLING GREEN, Ky – Last week, Bowling Green boys soccer defeated Warren Central 4-3 in a penalty shootout and was declared the champion of the 4th Region boys’ soccer tournament.

However, in a controversial turn of events, the KHSAA announced Monday afternoon that after an “incorrect implication of the rules,” the penalty kicks must be replayed.

During the sudden death rounds of the penalty shootout in the title game, both teams allowed players to participate after they had already attempted a penalty kick.

Under the official rules of the NFHS, a team cannot reuse those same players. A team has to use a different group of players first.

Because of that, Warren Central and Bowling Green met at Bowling Green Junior High School Monday evening to redo the sudden death rounds.

The match resumed in the sixth round of penalty kicks. The Purples led 5-4 and Warren Central got the first shot.

The Dragons and the Purples would both net their attempts up until the final shot of the ninth round when Bowling Green’s keeper William Swietek made the save in sudden death that solidified the 4th Region title for Bowling Green.

The unique situation left BG coaches and staff disappointed in the KHSAA.

“ I think it took something away from our kids’ experience,” Bowling Green Independent School District Superintendent Gary Fields said. “I saw kids today very emotional and coaches very emotional. think sometimes the KHSAA loses focus. It should be about the kids and not about the adults in this situation. This creates bad blood between two really good programs and as much as I’m glad we won the PKs, there’s not a whole lot to celebrate tonight after the day our kids had to spend.”

Bowling Green will still take on Owensboro in the first round of the KHSAA state tournament on Tuesday, October 26.