3rd Day in Emporia or The State Final

Game 21: 26 May at Emporia High School vs. St. James at High Noon (1-0)

The day began for both teams at 7:30 Sunday Mass at Holy Spirit. 

Pink Out 2, without any pink, did finally happen, but in the State Finals for all of the marbles. It was a rematch of the 2009 State Final that St. James eeked out 2-1 over us.

This one was heartbreaker for us, playing well but giving up a goal with less than a minute left in the match. 

We statistically were far better in the first half putting up 8 shots with 6 on goal, along with earning a couple of corners. 

Second half we only put up two shots, with none on goal. We didn’t earn a corner. Grace came oh-so-close on a mini-breakaway, but that’s really was the only time we were dangerous in the second half. 

The last twenty minutes both teams seemed pretty spent, but still working hard, but everyone's touch was off, kicks were weaker, less accurate. I just admire how much grit both groups showed. 

This postseason is one for the archives. This group rallied behind their leaders for a cause greater than themselves. All of us will be served well to learn from the example this group set. 

We must thank our 3 seniors not only for their play but for their leadership and gumption. Thank you Kyli, Meg and Bella. 

And how inspiring was our crowd chanting "play for more"? Our entire parent grouped had bought into the girls' theme and this team. What a postseason to remember. Check out the home-made fence banners:  

We finish at 12-8-1, STATE RUNNER-UP. Also runner-up in Nationals in Iowa, Champions of Mo-Kan.

STATS:

First Half. 

Saints:  Shots: 8 (6). Corners 2 (Cox. Deladurantaye) 

Thunder:  3 (1). Corners. 0

Second Half. 

Saints:  Shots 2 (0). Corners. 0. 

Thunder:  Shots  4 (2). Corners. 2. 

0:59 Thornhill (ball hits off defender off punt splitting our defense to create the breakaway).