After a big 2-1 win at Cornersville in Monday’s opening round of the District 6-A Tournament, the action moved to Forrest on Tuesday where the Lady Rockets fell 2-1 to top-seeded Cascade in a semifinal matchup.

The Lady Champions (12-2-1, 9-0-1), who are undefeated in district play over the past three seasons, will be seeking their third straight district title when they take on Huntland in Thursday night’s title game after the Lady Hornets beat Community 2-1 in the second quarterfinal game Tuesday night.

“For a team being first in the district and we only allowed two goals and get one back on them, I thought we played a heck of a game,” Forrest coach Nicole Pickle said.

Both district title game participants earned a berth in the upcoming Region 3-A Tournament.

Forrest (3-9-1, 2-7-1) has not reached a district title game since the 2007-2008 season when they lost 3-0 at Spring Hill.

Cascade’s strength all season has been its defense as they have posted seven shutouts while allowing just 15 goals in 18 games and the Lady Champions have only given up five goals in district play.

Tuesday night was no different as they allowed just two shots on goal the entire contest with both attempts coming on free kicks after fouls.

“That is what we have struggled with all season, we have had stellar defense, but we just lack the ability to get the ball up top to our offensive players and get them some shots,” Pickle said.

Both attempts were taken by Forrest eighth-grader Madison Stalnecker, who just missed at the 33:10 mark of the second half before scoring at the 18:25 mark to make it 2-1.

“Madison is an excellent player and we are looking forward to seeing her grow with the program and see what she can do in the next four years,” Pickle said.

Almost the entirety of the first half was played in the Forrest defensive side of the field with Lady Rocket senior goalkeeper Charity Runk keeping Chapel Hill in the game as she made save after save.

Runk, who will follow her big sister Jasmine to Columbia State Community College next season, came up with 14 saves in the game.

“Charity played her heart out and that is all we can ask for,” Pickle said. “She has done that all season.”

Runk and the Forrest defense kept the Lady Champs off the scoreboard until senior Carmen Ray scored on a rebound with 6:15 remaining in the first half.

Stalnecker first free kick was a good one as she sailed the ball high towards the net where Cascade keeper Tori Hull made a leaping save.

Cascade pushed the ball back in to the Forrest zone and made it 2-0 when Ray was awarded a penalty shot and knocked in a rebound after Runk made a diving save on the initial shot.

Fourteen minutes later Stalnecker scored off a free kick to cut the Cascade lead in half.

The Lady Rockets tried to come up with the equalizer, but the Cascade defense was impenetrable for the rest of the game and Forrest’s season came to a close.

Forrest loses seniors Zoe Long, Kaydee Todd, Priscila Rios, Runk, Caroline Warner, and Jesmarie Negron.

“We are losing six seniors and three of them are coming from defense, so we will have to rebuild our defense next year,” Pickle said. “Plus we are losing Zoe up top as a forward, we tried some different configurations this year, but it seemed we just could never find what worked for us. But, all in all it was a good season.”

Cascade 1 1-2

Forrest 0 1-1

Goals

Forrest: Madison Stalnecker.

Cascade: Carmen Ray 2.