FRANKFORT BEATS WOODFORD: CLINCHES DISTRICT TOP SEED

For 78 minutes and 6 seconds Tuesday, the Frankfort-Woodford County boys soccer match was a draw. With 1:54 remaining, Frankfort’s Tomaz Donaldson scored off an assist from Devin Craig, giving the Panthers the 1-0 win at Sower Soccer Complex. “I barely got a touch on it,” Donaldson said of his game-winning shot, “but I had a good feeling it was going in.” The victory captures the regular-season district championship for the Panthers and will make them the No. 1 seed in the 41st District tournament next month. FHS remains unbeaten at 12-0, but the Panthers were in a tight battle that went down to the wire. “We knew it was going to be a tough game,” Donaldson said. “They weren’t going to give us anything.” Woodford County’s Mason Coburn tries to kick the ball away from Frankfort’s Delano Craig during Tuesday’s match at Sower Soccer Complex. (Linda Younkin/linda.younkin@state-journal.com) While both teams spent time on the offensive side of the field, clean shots on goal were hard to come by. “Woodford County schemed us well and took away some things we like to do, so we had to adjust and play a different style of game,” FHS coach Brad Kennedy said. “We adapted well over the course of the game. “Our back four is a very cohesive hard-working unit, along with goalkeeper Kainan Boone being vocal behind them.” The back four on defense for Frankfort are Sam Midkiff, Delano Craig, Ethan Young and Ethan Fields. “We’ve got a pretty good identity, I think,” Kennedy said of his team. “They have some really lofty goals as a team, and they’ve let some past shortcomings really spur their motivation this year.” Midkiff, Young and Fields are three of the nine seniors on this year’s squad. “We’re a mature group,” Kennedy said. “Some of these guys have been four-year starters. We’ve been through a lot of battles together. The biggest thing is doing everything as a team. “We want to defend together, attack together, possess together, and if we do those things I like our chances.” Frankfort plays its next match Thursday at Spencer County. On Sept. 19 the Panthers travel to Somerset to play the Briar Jumpers for a spot in the All “A” state tournament. Frankfort is the 11th Region champion, and Somerset won the 12th Region.