Late goal leads to KF loss
Published 9:14 pm Saturday, June 10, 2017
King’s Fork High School’s girls’ soccer team stretched things just about as long as they could, but their season ended Friday in a state semifinals loss to Jefferson Forest High School.
The Lady Bulldogs fought hard until the end of a quadruple-overtime game in the 4A state semifinals at Roanoke College. The score was tied 1-1, when the game went to a shootout.
King’s Fork had held onto a 1-0 lead, with Rebecca Washburn having scored KF’s only goal, when, with three minutes left to play in regulation, the Lady Cavaliers were able to get on the scoreboard.
For as hard as the Lady Bulldogs played, it was a bit frustrating that if KF had held on for three minutes they could have played for a state title.
“The girls fought so hard,” coach Mike Marston said. “It was a bit unfortunate that we made a mistake the kind of led to their goal in regulation. It was a great shot. There was nothing Jordan could do about it.”
“We all know this game meant a lot to each one of us,” Skylar Wall said. “We showed up to the field ready to play every minute. We played like a team and moved liked one as well.”
Wall said that when the team knew they were going into penalty kicks, they told each other however the game ended to keep each other’s heads up.
Goalie Jordan Fransee had a big game for King’s Fork. Her performance was so impressive that she may have earned her way onto the 4A All-State team.
Wall, Cydney Nichols, Ashley Bido and Paige Summers also had strong games for the Lady Bulldogs. They helped neutralize a lot of attacks from the Lady Cavs.
With so many players having such solid games for the Lady Bulldogs, it is easy to see why the accolades followed. King’s Fork had eight players on the All Conference teams and seven on the All Region.
And King’s Fork girls’ soccer achieved history by having its most successful season to date.
“I’m proud of all the girls,” Marston said. “They really put their heart into it. We faced injuries — even in our last game, we had girls banged up. The girls gave everything they had all season, especially the last month. It was a pleasure to have a front-row seat to watch these girls play.”