St. George's edges ECS for II-A title

St. George's coach Tony Whicker had to remind himself that it was over.

Allie Whitsitt had an overtime goal off a header, giving the Lady Gryphons their second Division II-A championship in three seasons by defeating Evangelical Christian School 2-1 Friday at Girls Preparatory School.

"I still think we're supposed to play another game," Whicker said. "It was a hard-fought, back-and-forth game. Both teams had chances and it was a gut-check, but we managed to pull it out."

Three minutes into the first overtime period, Tori Fitzgerald had a run down the right sideline. She sent a cross into the middle, and Whitsitt was there to head the ball in for the go-ahead score.

"Tori always makes that run perfectly down the sideline," Whitsitt said. "She made a perfect cross. I just got lucky to get my head on it and stick it in the back of the net."

The tight game went the way of the Lady Gryphons early in the second half when Mary Patterson scored off a Lindsey Anne Grisham free kick at the 34:18 mark, but Ashley Kimberlin tied the game eight minutes later when she ripped a shot outside the 18 that deflected off a player and went into the goal.

After the goal, ECS controlled possession yet wasn't able to push another goal through.

"When they scored, it seemed that we looked a little leg-heavy," Whicker said. "We just managed to keep it going, keep the train moving."

"I'm proud of my girls. They fought, fought, fought and I couldn't have asked for anything more," ECS coach Alexis Boyd said. "St. George's is a good team. We beat them before, but they did when it counted."

This was the deepest postseason advancement in ECS girls' soccer history. The team won 14 games.

"We lost nine girls that I've had since they were freshmen, so that''ll hurt," Boyd said, "but this is a very big step for ECS soccer, and one we hope to continue."

ST. GEORGE'S 2, EVANGELICAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL 1

Halftime: 0-0. Goals: Mary Patterson, Allie Whitsitt (SG); Ashley Kimberlin (ECS). Assists: Lindsey Anne Grisham, Tori Fitzgerald (SG). Shots on goal: ECS, 13-9. Saves: Amy Mirro (SG); Kelsey Huggins 1 (ECS). Records: St. George's 17-4-2; ECS 14-4-3.