Fairfield wins 2nd-ever district championship; defeats Lynchburg-Clay
Pictured are the 2025 Division V SE District champion Fairfield Lady Lions following their 3-2 win over the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs on Thursday (Oct. 23). (HCP Photo/Stephen Forsha)
WAVERLY — For the second time this season, the Fairfield Lady Lions defeated their Highland County counterpart and rival, the Lynchburg-Clay Lady Mustangs, but this time it was for a district championship to advance to the Sweet 16.
The No. 1 seeded Lady Lions defeated the No. 2 seeded Lady Mustangs, 3-2 in another classic contest between the two Highland County and Southern Hills Athletic Conference rivals at Raidiger Field in downtown Waverly on Thursday.
Fairfield led early by a 1-0 score in the first half, scoring a quick goal at the start of the Division V SE District Finals match with junior Vivian Henninger putting the ball into the back of the net 32 seconds into the game (39:28) for the 1-0 lead.
That was the score at halftime, and in the early stages of the second half it was a repeat performance by Henninger, with the junior scoring Fairfield’s second goal 1:26 into the second half with another fast goal at the 38:34 mark for a 2-0 Lady Lion lead.
Henninger gained the hat trick with 18:33 left in the contest as she scored her third goal of the match, this time blasting through the defense of Lynchburg-Clay and going straight to the keeper and kicking the ball to the net for a three-goal advantage.
Fairfield’s 3-0 lead quickly shrank to a 3-2 score as time was winding down with under 10:00 left in the match, as the Lady Mustangs — a defending six-time consecutive district champion — battled back with a goal by Caraline West with 8:40 left in regulation, and later LC’s second goal was scored with 6:48 left in the second half off a goal by Lily Ferguson.
From there, though, the defense of Fairfield kept the Lady Mustangs at bay, keeping them from tying the score as time expired for the Lady Lions’ victory, giving them their second-ever district championship in program history and their second title in the past three seasons.
The SE District champion Fairfield Lady Lions will now face the winner of the Central District match between Grandview Heights or Fairbanks on Tuesday, Oct. 28 at Lancaster High School with a 7 p.m. start.
Fairfield improves their overall record to 13-6-0 this season. Lynchburg-Clay ends the year at 7-9-2 overall.
(Check back Friday evening for a complete article with comments from both coaches.)