Girls soccer: King's Academy falls

Friday, February 05, 2010
by Paul Ivice

King's Academy lost 1-0 to Tampa Prep in a Class 2A regional final Friday when a long shot in the 59th minute bounced over the Lions' backup goalkeeper.

The loss dashed the Lions' hopes of returning to the state tournament, where they were semifinalists last year.

On a wet field after a brief rain shower during the first half, Terrapins defender Mackenzie Logan kicked a high, arcing shot from about 40 yards out, and senior goalkeeper Kristy Louissaint got caught between bounces.

"It skipped on the wet ground and got over her head," Lions coach Glenn Martin said. "It was a good goal but a lucky goal."

Martin said Louissaint had played as much as starter Rachel Spell during the season for the Lions (19-6). "She's a good goalie and made good saves," he said. "It was certainly not her fault."

Tampa Prep coach Cindy Schofield said, "As soon as it came off her (Logan's) foot, I knew it was going in because the goalkeeper was moving forward and with the wet surface it took a slick bounce."

Louissaint began the second half in goal because Spell, an eighth-grader, was kicked in the head with 15 seconds left in the first half as she covered up a ball on the ground. Spell had come out to stop a potential Tampa Prep shot.

No foul was called and the half expired as Spell lay on the ground. Spell stayed down for more than half of the 10-minute intermission as she was attended to by trainers and coaches, then was helped off the field. Martin said Spell probably had a concussion and was unable to continue.

Until then, the Terrapins (20-5-4) had not tested Spell. The Lions had most of the first-half shots on goal, including two that required strong saves by Terrapins keeper Jordan Hatton. The closest was Gilda Doria's 20-yard shot that deflected off Hatton's hand and the crossbar.

"We had 70 to 80 percent of the possession in the first half and some good looks at the goal, but we just didn't finish," Martin said.