A tough break on a sudden-death penalty kick ended the season for the Suffolk Christian Academy girls’ soccer team on Tuesday.

During a semifinals game for the Hampton Roads Athletic Conference, the Lady Knights relied on an untested Emma VanDorn at the goalie position.

VanDorn held her own through regular play and for most of the sudden-death penalty kick shootout, but in the end the Summit Christian Academy team was able to sneak one extra goal past her.

“This was my first time playing goalie,” VanDorn said after the game. “I did what I could.”

The game had started slowly, with the Lady Knights trying to feel out their opponents, who were having a hard time getting past the strong Suffolk Christian defense.

Eventually that defense would let up, allowing Summit to score. The Lady Knights stayed on offense for much of the first half, but missed opportunities kept the advantage with Summit.

Still, a strong SCA defensive effort by Cassidy Dennys and VanDorn in the goal kept Summit from scoring more in the first half, which ended with Summit up 1-0.

Well into the second half, Summit players became more aggressive, closing in on the Knights and knocking over their players. That strategy paid off, as Summit Christian scored again and took a 2-0 lead.

SCA scrambled to keep pace, with Victoria Twisdale scoring to cut the Summit lead to 2-1 and breathe new life into the Suffolk team’s effort.

“I was excited to make that goal,” Twisdale said.

VanDorn stayed strong in front of the net to make the stops that gave her teammates time to come back.

“All I could think was, ‘Lord Jesus please help me,’” VanDorn said. “I was terrified.”

It wasn’t long before Eva Waddell scored from her defensive position for the Lady Knights, tying the game at 2-2.

“I wasn’t expecting to score on defense,” Waddell said. “I want to thank my teammates for being there.”

Summit Christian became confused by the SCA turnaround, allowing Twisdale to escape ahead and score again, the Lady Knights their first lead of the game, 3-2.

Having scored three unanswered points, the Knights were in position to close out the game until a kicked ball flew directly into Dennys’ face knocking her down and allowing Summit Christian to tie the game at 3-3.

After an overtime in which neither team scored after both being given control of the ball, the game moved to a sudden-death shootout round.

Suffolk Christian kept the pace in penalty kicks until a re-kick allowed Summit a second chance at a ball that had been stopped. That kick decided the game, and Summit beat the Knights 8-7.

As part of Suffolk Christian’s Senior Night festivities, Zoie Howell, Madison Heard, Milante Flauta, Emma VanDorn and Aundrey Rowlands were recognized and given flowers prior to the game, while being accompanied to the field by their parents.