Apsara Som’18 deflects ball from defender’s path. (Jennifer L’Hommedieu’19)
After a week of wins, the girls soccer team aimed to ride its hot streak into the District Semifinals, against Worthington Christian on Wednesday, October 25. Impervious to the chilly weather, the girls played a grueling two-and-a-half hour game, fighting through two overtimes before finally prevailing in penalty kicks.
The Vikings burst onto the field determined, maintaining possession and pressuring the Warriors’ defense. Seniors Tori Abell and Muriel Goldfarb had shots on goal, and a promising cross by sophomore Annalise Grammel was blocked.
Although Academy played aggressive offense, Worthington Christian scored the first goal of the game with six and a half minutes left in the first half.
But the Vikes quickly responded with a goal by Emma Belford’20 less than two minutes later, and the squads headed to the break deadlocked at 1.
Academy’s offensive attack was rewarded sixteen minutes into the second half, as senior Apsara Som finished a corner kick by Abell to give the Vikings the lead. It looked as if the girls would preserve their lead, but the Warriors broke through the CA defense, scoring with three minutes left in the game to even the score.
After a five minute break, the first overtime session began. Neither team was able to capitalize on their shots, and the game went into double overtime.
The second overtime ended in a stalemate as well, meaning penalty kicks would ensue to decide the game’s outcome.
The Warriors kicked first, and though senior goalie Kyra Zoog read the first shot, it barely evaded her, giving Worthington Christian the early advantage.
Som immediately responded for the Vikes, sending her shot into the goal as well.
The Warriors converted their second shot as well, then proceeded to block senior Grace Yakam’s attempt, leaving Academy down 2-1 heading into the third frame.
WC’s third kicker missed, and Grammel capitalized on the mistake, burying her shot and tying it up, 2-2.
Both teams made their fourth kicks, with a close goal by sophomore Sarah Neltner, which tipped off the goalie’s hands, hit the crossbar, and bounced into the net.
The pending tension peaked as the fifth and final kickers prepared to take their shots. The Warriors missed, and Academy’s supporters went wild, knowing that a goal would end the game in their favor.
The pressure rested on the shoulders of junior Madalynn Farkas. She’d had little field time that night, but she was ready to perform. The CA faithful watched with bated breath, then erupted into cheers, as Farkas drilled the shot.
Despite the exhaustion and biting cold, the girls had clinched a 4-3 win in penalty kicks, sending them to the District Finals, where they played Grandview Heights at Gahanna Lincoln High School on Saturday, October 28.
The Vikings and Bobcats clashed fiercely, as both teams were determined to take home the District title. While the Vikes dominated possession in the first half, Grandview held strong, and neither team found the back of the net for the entirety of regulation. After a pair of scoreless overtimes, Academy went into penalty kicks again.
Som matched the first kicker, but Yakam’s shot was blocked, giving the Bobcats the lead.
Grandview made its third shot while Grammel’s shot hit the crossbar and missed, widening the gap to 3-1 in favor of the Bobcats. Neltner jumped on a miss by Grandview’s fourth kicker, cutting the deficit to 3-2. However, Grandview’s fifth shot hit its mark, ending the game at 4-2, and forcing Academy to settle for a District runner-up.
While the Vikings couldn’t ignore the disappointment, pride in their abilities and hard work shone through their tears as their sensational season came to an end. CA will lose an incredible senior class, but a wealth of young talent should bring another successful campaign for the program next year.
