TAMPA – The eight seniors on Bartram Trail’s girls soccer team wanted an unforgettable ending to their high school careers.
They earned one – just not exactly the one they’d hoped for.
The Bears lost 1-0 (4-3 PK) to Merritt Island in the Class 4A state championship game Thursday night at the University of Tampa’s Pepin Stadium.
It was the second consecutive penalty kick shootout and the third in the last four games for Bartram Trail (24-3-1), which advanced to the program’s first state title game appearance with a 2-1 (5-3 PK) victory in Wednesday’s state semifinal.
“I’m so proud of these girls and what they’ve done with this season,” Bears coach Jen West said. “I’m not upset (about losing the championship game) because they gave everything they could today.
“They left it on the field,” she added. “That’s what we talk about it, so I couldn’t be more proud of them.”
Merritt Island keeper Sydney Drinkwater made two saves in the penalty kick shootout. With the score tied 2-2, she batted away a kick by Bears sophomore Cameron Slate.
But Bartram Trail senior keeper Lauren Hamilton made a diving play to save Mustangs senior Hannah Linton’s attempt, pulling the Bears back even at 3-3.
Drinkwater then made a save on a kick from Bartram Trail senior Alicia Jacobson, who hit the game-winner for Bartram Trail in the Bears’ previous two penalty kick playoff shootouts.
That gave Mustangs senior Stacey Steele a chance to win it for Merritt Island (18-3-2), and she buried her shot in the left side of the goal, just out of Hamilton’s reach.
“They were awesome at PKs, I can give them that,” Hamilton said.
