MSHS Soccer falls to Sacred Heart Griffin, sets sights on next year
BY FRED KRONER
Mahomet-Seymour’s first girls’ soccer loss to an in-state school came in Tuesday’s Class 2A sectional semifinals and marked a season-ending setback as well as halting a 15-match winning streak.
The Bulldogs dropped a 2-1 decision to Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin in a match played at Rochester High School.
The only other M-S loss this spring was also by one goal and came against a team from Stephens Point, Wis.
The 24-2 Bulldogs set school records this year for most wins in a season and fewest losses in a season under first-year head coach Kelsie Donley Briggs.
The previous marks were both held by last year’s 21-3 team.
The M-S goal was scored by Cayla Koerner, with an assist from Madison Wade. It was one of 21 shots the Bulldogs had on goal. Koerner’s goal gave M-S a 1-0 lead.
Brooke Benson hit what at first was believed to be a match-tying goal in what turned out to be a scoreless second half.
Briggs said the call was overruled, noting that she shot was “counted by the center ref, and then taken away from the side ref.”
She didn’t agree with the explanation.
“He claimed it didn’t go in the goal,” Briggs said. “However, the goalie had to retrieve the ball out of the goal and there was no hole in the net.
“Unlucky for us.”
M-S goalkeeper Grace Larson totaled four saves.
The loss ended M-S’ season one win short of being among the state’s final 16 teams.
For the season, 22 squad members had either a goal or an assist.
Koerner led with 28 goals, Wade tallied 27 goals and Brea Benson finished with 21 goals.
Wade ended with a team-high 24 assists, Haley Lester had 20 assists and Koerner had 19.
In nine matches, Larson collected 21 saves.
For the season, M-S outscored its opponents 145-11.
This year marked the 12th consecutive above .500 season for the girls’ soccer program and the 17th in the past 18 years.
This year’s M-S team had seven seniors: Sarah Amjad, Alese Hutchison, Ainsley Jessup, Haley Lester, Maddie Louis, Mackenzie Moore and Madison Wade.
