STARKVILLE — In its best form, Starkville Academy”s soccer team had its worst performance when it least expected it.
Unbeaten in six straight matches, the Lady Volunteers entered their Mississippi Association of Independent Schools Class AAA playoff opener against Presbyterian Christian on Tuesday feeling they were ready for the weight of a postseason match.
After a 3-2 loss to PCS, the Lady Vols were disappointed to drop a game they led for nearly a half and should have clinched just two minutes from time.
The ebb and flow of the match saw the visitors play crisper soccer and take advantage of scoring chances. PCS equalized Tiffany Huddleston”s fourth-minute goal with a second-half score before scoring twice in the first extra period.
Starkville Academy coach Robert Gardner thought his team would carry over the form and focus from last week”s draw against Jackson Academy — a game he felt had “playoff atmosphere.”
When it came to the real playoff match, Gardner was left to rue his squad”s poor decision-making and lack of communication. A demonstrative Gardner was vocal the entire match, stalking the sideline and imploring his players to seize the moment.
Starkville Academy”s disjointed play in front of goalkeeper Garland Willcutt (eight saves) aided PCS” lengthy spells of possession.
All of it added up to a disappointing loss in a game Gardner felt the Lady Volunteers failed to handle the pressure of a playoff match.
“We maybe panicked in times where we wouldn”t have normally panicked,” Gardner said. “In situations where we normally make good decisions, we weren”t making the best decisions. It just became difficult, and when you put yourselves under that kind of pressure it”s always gonna be a tough day.”
Huddleston, who scored two goals against Jackson Academy, had both goals against PCS and gave the Lady Volunteers a 1-0 lead just four minutes in. She pulled one back off a corner kick as the team chased a 3-1 deficit in extra time, but the shot she failed to put away will haunt her as she suffered another first-round loss as a Lady Vol.
After PCS” Madison Campbell tied the game at one, Huddleston played a pair of sharp crosses into the box, only to see forward Sallie Kate Richardson come up short on the finish.
Starkville Academy then came close to scoring the go-ahead goal, but goalkeeper Adrienne Ingram turned away a right-footed shot by Payton Allen, who made a long run up the flank to get into position, in the 65th minute.
After a deft layoff from Richardson in the 78th, Huddleston, in similar fashion to her opener, sprinted past two defenders for a one-on-one shot with Ingram.
But at the top of the six-yard box, Huddleston plowed a left-footed shot off Ingram, who favored her near post and left plenty of net begging to receive the winner.
“I think I was thinking about it too much, thinking ”this could decide the game right here,” ” Huddleston said. “All I had to do was pass it in the goal, and I shot straight at her.”
Starkville Academy switched to a 3-4-3 once Aubrey Upton and Peyton Dorsey scored for PCS in the first extra time period, and while Huddleston brought Starkville Academy within a goal, Willcutt said the team”s lackadaisical trends held it back.
“I don”t think (PCS) were that great offensively,” Willcutt said. “The two goals they scored in the second half was us quitting on ourselves. We just didn”t step to the ball. There”s really nothing you can do about it. If you don”t step to the ball they”re going to shoot it.
“We all came into the game confident, but we just lost it after PCS scored the second goal.”
PCS will face Jackson Prep on Thursday, while Starkville Academy ends the season at 9-7-1 in Gardner”s first year in charge.
“It”s like I was telling the girls a few weeks ago, I”m their third coach in three years and I told them there”s not going to be four coaches in four years,” Gardner said. “I will be back, and I”m looking forward to having a lot of success with this group.
“I am very sad to lose (senior) Shelby (Carpenter). She was a big part of our success. She”s a hard worker. It”s unfortunate to lose her, but I told the girls we”re moving forward. We”ve got 21 of 22 returning, and that”s always a positive.”
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