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Second Time No Charm: Lionettes' season ends in familiar fashion
Photo courtesy of Rog Pachuta – McKinney saw its season come to an end on Tuesday with a loss to Carrollton Creekview. The Lady Mustangs have beaten the Lionettes in the area round two consecutive years.
By Andrew Snyder, asnyder@starlocalnews.com
MCKINNEY—There was an air of familiarity about the Carrollton Creekview girls soccer team's area playoff win over McKinney on Tuesday, as the 1-0 decision marked the second time in as many years the Lady Mustangs bounced McKinney in the second round.
Taking an early lead made all the difference for Creekview (16-3-4) in the hotly-contested matchup.
In the 12th minute, a foul just outside the box set up Lady Mustangs junior Lauren Selaiden, who is among the team's top scorers, with a free kick from 20 yards out. She took advantage by deflecting the ball off a Lionettes' defender, sending it opposite keeper Abby Gary for the score.
“We played them last year in the second round and it was the same kind of game.”
Before that point, McKinney (14-4-4) seemed to have the game under control, as it opened play with strong ball movement predicated on quick, one-touch passes and even distribution.
The Lady Mustangs' goal tipped the scales, though.
“It put some pressure on them and took a little pressure off us,” Beddow said. “But obviously, 1-0 is a close game. You can't just sit back and defend after that. You have to keep playing. We just tried to keep working as hard as we could and hold the ball. It was a very physical match on both sides.”
The Lionettes maintained solid play through the first half, but as time wound down and they failed to net the equalizer, Creekview put its clock-control efforts into full swing. The closing minutes saw senior Brittany Beddow trap the ball in the corner on repeated Lady Mustangs' throw-ins to force McKinney to knock the ball out of bounds as it tried to regain possession.
“They've been through enough of those to understand clock management at the end of the game,” Beddow said. “It's part of the game and we did a good job with it.”
Tuesday's loss ended a four-game McKinney win streak that saw it seal the District 17-4A championship and defeat Frisco Wakeland in bi-district play, 2-0.
Next year, the Lionettes will move into District 10-5A alongside Plano Senior, Plano East, Plano West, Allen and McKinney Boyd to form what promises to be one of the state's most competitive leagues.
“I think we need to be proud of the girls,” Pantarotto said. “We had a wonderful season. I know we want to win them all, but what is important is that we are always representing McKinney in a good way – with class and with pride. Of course any coach hates to lose. I hate to lose, but I have to think that there's always a brewing process.
“I hope this was a good brewing process for next year when we move to 5A.”
Creekview advances to a sectional-round meeting with intra-city rival Carrollton R.L. Turner, who the Lady Mustangs swept during district: with a 2-1 comeback win during the first meeting and a more decisive 4-1 win in the second round. Turner advanced via 1-0 wins over Greenville and Frisco Centennial.
“I was real proud of our kids,” Beddow said. “I thought they left it all out on the field – some more than I've seen all year long – when they needed to.”
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