Lafayette fell just short of defending its Class 3 girls soccer state title, falling 1-0 to Brentsville District in the championship game Saturday at Riverbend High.
Arkansas recruit Peyton McGovern scored the game-winner for the Tigers (22-1) with about 20 minutes remaining in the second half. McGovern scored on a drive that began about 10 yards outside the top of the penalty box as she dribbled past numerous midfielders and defenders before slotting the ball past Rams goalkeeper Eva Fields.
“We knew about her and knew we’d have to be on top of our game to stop her,” Lafayette coach Kelli Ernst said. “That was a hard goal to concede because I thought Ceci Riggs and Riley Bennett did a phenomenal job of shutting her down otherwise.
“We were shorthanded today, so we were a little tired at that point. Still we battled the entire game.”
Ernst was referring to the absence of Lexi King, who tallied 15 goals and eight assists this season, but missed the state final because she was injured early in the week.
“We were able to put a lot of pressure on them in the first half and we had more shots on goal, but we missed that extra player,” Ernst said.
Taylor Walker, who scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Wilson Memorial on Friday, led the attack. A sophomore who notched 33 goals and 27 assists this season, she is one of many expected to return next season.
The Rams will suffer a significant loss on defense with the graduation of Jasmin Piggott, who was selected Class 3 Region A Co-Player of the Year, and in the midfield, where Sam Lynch (five goals, 11 assists) was all-region first team. Almost all of the other key players should return.
That group includes Bennett (13 goals, five assists), Riggs (16 goals, 10 assists), Kira Moore and Mandi Lynch. All, like Walker, were selected first-team all-region except for Mandi Lynch, who was selected to the second team.
All, save King, who is a junior and will be back, are sophomores or freshmen.
“It was a very exciting season,” Ernst said. “A lot of people questioned us after we lost so many seniors off of last year’s state championship team, but everyone stepped up and showed Lafayette is a strong program.
“We will be in the (state championship) hunt for years to come.”
