Monday’s Conference 17 semifinal started exceptionally well for King’s Fork High School’s field hockey team, but Deep Creek High School recovered from an early deficit to win 3-1 at the L.R. Hill Sports Complex in Norfolk.

“We started off with good enthusiasm, but it’s a hard loss when you really are looking forward to going further in your season,” King’s Fork coach Darcy Pinchbeck said.

The loss brought the Lady Bulldogs’ season to a conclusion with a 3-11-1 overall record.

It was the third time King’s Fork and Deep Creek had faced off this season. Deep Creek had won the first meeting, and King’s Fork had won the second meeting 1-0 in overtime.

Pinchbeck said she thought both teams changed things up since their last game against each other.

“We prepared for this game for weeks because we knew coming in this was going to be on turf, going to be different from every other game,” she said.

Having experience playing on turf, she taught her players different types of hits and ways to succeed on the smoother, faster surface.

She said she did not think the Lady Hornets outplayed her girls, and the number of offensive penalty corners earned by the teams was consistent with a close game, as Deep Creek had four and King’s Fork had three.

“I think they just put the ball in the back of the cage, and we didn’t,” Pinchbeck said. “So, it’s all about finishing.”

At the outset of the game, the Lady Bulldogs did not seem like they would have any problem with finishing. Before a minute had ticked off the clock, KF junior Kaylyn Swinson scored, with an assist from junior Lauren Park.

The Lady Hornets responded to make it 1-1 at halftime and went up 2-1 early in the second half. The Lady Bulldogs battled and had opportunities on Deep Creek’s side of the field multiple times in the last 20 minutes of play, but could not convert.

The Lady Hornets were able to earn a two-goal cushion with 4:36 remaining.

At the conclusion of her first season as the Lady Bulldogs’ coach, Pinchbeck said, “I’m very pleased with their overall performance of the season. Obviously, this game and the record doesn’t show how well they have progressed.”

King’s Fork junior goalkeeper Hannah O’Neal said the team had a rough start to the year, but “I think we’ve come a long way.”

Noting how many players from last year’s team had graduated, junior forward Nia Vargas said, “The juniors had to take over and everything, and we had to become little leaders.”

Pinchbeck said, “We’ve got a big season ahead of us next year, as well. We’ll have hopefully all returning players,” adding she expects to have 10 seniors.