Richmond Hill girls soccer team's undefeated season ends in overtime loss
The undefeated Richmond Hill girls soccer team suffered its first loss of the season in a state quarterfinal overtime setback against Harrison.
The Richmond Hill girls soccer team entered Monday night's Class 6A state quarterfinal matchup with visiting Harrison undefeated and battle-tested after edging Norcross in overtime in its second round game. And as the match with Harrison was winding down, it looked like the Wildcats were ready to punch their ticket to the state semifinals. But Harrison kept the pressure on and got the break it needed in the 78th minute.
Richmond Hill keeper Kamryn Martinez turned back a couple shots, but Hoya junior Natalie Young was able to pick up the ball out of the scrum in front of the net and score the equalizer that sent the match to overtime tied 1-1. A moment later, Martinez and defender Edyne Perry-Anderson went down in a collision with a hard-charging Hoya striker. Martinez suffered a bloody nose, and returned for the final seconds of regulation.
But she was on the sideline in concussion protocol when Addison Cronemeyer flicked a shot into the net eight minutes into the first overtime. The goal stood up for Harrison, as the Hoyas edged the Wildcats 2-1. Harrison improved to 16-4 on the season and will face Walton in semifinal matchup on Thursday at a site to be annouced.
It was the first loss of the year for the Wildcats, who closed out a memorable season with a 19-1 record. Richmond Hill took a 1-0 lead in the 34th minute on a well-placed corner kick by Brooke Norris that Ella Brooking nearly got her head onto. But when the ball found the ground, sophomore Karley Schultz was there to convert from point blank range as the Wildcats took a lead that would stand until two minutes remained in regulation.