The Lady Titan soccer team defeated the Washington Lady Hatchets in the semi-final round of the IHSAA Sectional 31. The Titans previously defeated the Hatchets in the regular season 3-1, but this time it was Sectional action, where every team’s season resets.
The Hatchets came into the tournament 10-6 on the season and finished 4th in the Pocket Athletic Conference. The Titans, however, came into the game with a 12-3 record and finished 2nd in the conference.
After forty minutes of back and forth soccer, the first half ended scoreless, making the second half even more important. It seemed like nerves were rattling both teams.
“We were not playing as a team and needed to get the nerves out,” junior Corinne Stevens said. “We had a few opportunities in the first half but needed to play together and play the ball to feet.”
Finally, with 27 minutes left, Stevens opened up down the field and put the first point on the boards for the Titans, giving them a 1-0 advantage.
“It felt good to get something in the back of the net,” Stevens said.
Just two minutes later, junior Lainey Cloin followed with a goal of her own, giving the Titans a 2-0 lead. The Titans defense stayed strong throughout the second half, shutting out the Lady Hatchets.
Another Stevens goal with 28 seconds left in the second half sealed the deal, finishing the game 3-0 in favor of Gibson Southern.
“We knew we were being lazy and could play much better,” Stevens said. ”We got our nerves out in the first half and were able to play as a team and bring the energy up in the second half.”
This was the seventh shutout in a row for sophomore goalie Paige Schnaus and the Titan defense.
“Postseason time is by far my favorite part of the season, so being able to not let anything go by was very motivating to myself and the other girls moving on to the Sectional championship game,” Schnaus said.
Also with this 3-0 victory, the Titans continued their streak of 38 straight unanswered goals, outscoring opponents 38-0 in the last eight games.
“It’s great,” head coach Sylvia Sellers said. “I don’t have to do a lot; I just trust them to do their job. The whole team trusts them.”
The Lady Titans face the Vincennes Lincoln Lady Alices in the Sectional final this Saturday at 1 p.m. CST at the Gwaltney Sports Complex in Washington.
