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Sports

Pattonville Girls Soccer Season Comes To An End In Sectional Play

"They left blood, sweat and tears on the field," according to their coach.

BEL-NOR -- As they walked off the field at the end of a 3-2 loss to Incarnate Word Academy Tuesday, it was an eerie feeling for the girls' soccer squad.

Not since 2008 have the Pirates been eliminated from postseason play this early. But the end came with lots of hugs and plenty of tears after the Pirates fell to the area's top ranked team in the Red Knights during the Class 3 sectional at Incarnate Word High School.

The Pirates, who finish 2011 with a 16-10 record, placed second in state a year ago after finishing third in 2009. So even though they were heavy underdogs against a Red Devils squad many tout as the best team in Missouri, the Pirates came in with expectations of their own. But their playoff run was, in their eyes, truncated.

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"The very first thing (junior back) Kimmy Hulse said to me when we sat down (after the game) was, 'This feels weird,' because they're used to winning these games," Pattonville coach Tom Iffrig said. "They thought we were going to win this game.

"People say that, and yeah, they're the No. 1 team in the area, but our girls really didn't think that coming in. They really thought they were going to win this game. And they showed it on the field today."

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The Pirates gave the Red Knights (15-5-1), who advance to the Class 3 quarterfinals, their best shot and wouldn't go down quietly.

Sophomore Maddie Orf's header in the 60th minute snapped a 2-2 tie and Incarnate Word was able to hold off a valiant and game Pirates bunch in the end.

"We knew they were going to come hard at us, so we knew we had to play hard, too," Orf said of Pattonville. "But we have high expectations of our own...We're going all the way this year."

The Pirates physically left all they had between the lines, with juniors Kim Hulse (dehydration) and Mikala McGhee (bloodied nose, possibly broken) both coming off the pitch but re-entering the match to help their team.

"Our team gave almost everything that we could," a teary-eyed McGhee said, blood visible from a cut after she and Incarnate sophomore Melanie Donaldson collided going up for a head ball in the second half. "Unfortunately, I had to come out for an injury and I couldn't be on the field the whole time. I tried to get back out there and help our team.

"Everybody was hustling and giving their all. Incarnate's a great team. They studied how we played and they knew what to come out and do. For the most part, we showed a lot of resiliency in coming back. They got a good goal (in the second half) and we couldn't get it back."

The Pirates twice battled back from one-goal deficits in the first half. Incarnate senior Natalie Kuhlenberg scored just 1 minute, 10 seconds into the match, slipping a shot past sophomore Kayla Benoit before Kim Hulse tied it 7:09 in on a head ball after a deep throw-in from McGhee.

Freshman Elly Freesmeier gave the Red Knights a 2-1 lead 18:50 into the match, but Kacie Hulse would tie it with 1:30 left in the half on a 25-yard shot that Incarnate senior keeper Jamie Helfer couldn't reach and the ball popped off the cross bar and in.

"We know how to come back, and that's one thing our team does a really good job of," McGhee said. "We keep our heads up and continue to play throughout the game."

It was obvious the Red Knightss were looking to take Pattonville junior Kailey Utley, who holds the school record for goals in a season with 34, out of the Pirates' offensive attack. Divesting Utley's ball possession was the Red Knights' answer. And if Incarnate's marking four couldn't take away possessions, they were looking to encapsulate Utley any way they could.

"We weren't able to get it up to her and play our patterns like we've worked on and have been able to do in previous games," Iffrig said of Utley. "They put high pressure on anyone with the ball. They just kind of smothered us."

The Red Knights continued to come at Pattonville in waves with a balanced attack but the Pirates didn't buckle...until Orf struck off a McKenzie Combs throw-in to the far post.

Combs, who had a pair of assists in the match, utilizes the flip throw-ins and perfectly placed a ball to the back post, where Orf was waiting for the finishing header.

The Red Knights executed the play meticulously.

"She's great at doing that," Orf said of Combs. "I know it's going to come to me one way or the other unless someone else gets it."

Added Iffrig, "The game-winning goal came on a phenomenal goal."

The Pirates' best chances in the second half came in the waning moments, when Kim Hulse's free kick was headed into the top of the net, but Helfer made a clutch stop by punching the ball over the goal.

Then on the ensuing corner kick, McGhee just punched a header over the goal right before the final horn sounded.

"I couldn't be prouder of my girls," Iffrig said. "They left blood, sweat and tears on the field today.

"I told them to leave everything on the field today, and that's what they did...Going into this game, they had no fear...none. They thought they were going to win this game."

And as that final horn sounded...even though these Pirate players didn't know any better, they finally had to capitulate.

"I'm used to playing into the summer and after school, but we gave everything we could," McGhee said. "You couldn't ask for a better season than that. I wish Incarnate the best of luck, but we're going to be back next year and we're going to come back harder.

"I've got one more year and I'm not going to waste it."

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