Parkview Girls Fall in PKs in First Round of State

Parkview’s girls were looking for revenge over Northview Tuesday night in the first round of the Class AAAAA soccer tournament. The Lady Panthers lost to the Titans in last year’s semifinal.

Unfortunately for the Panthers, they were off target in penalty kicks, losing in a shootout to Northview at the Big Orange Jungle in Lilburn. The game was tied 0-0 after regulation and overtime, and Northview outshot the Lady Panthers 3-1 in the shootout.

The match was a defensive stalemate with few menacing shots on goal. Mariah Garner had a stellar performance in her first start in goal for Parkview. Regular keeper Asha Wright was unavailable.

Garner had multiple saves throughout the night.

Northview had a serious shot at a goal with five minutes left in the first half when Amanda Schwartz collected a throw-in inside the box with her back to the goal, turned and shot one across the goal. Parkview’s Garner went horizontal in a quick reflex save to keep Parkview in the game.

The half ended 0-0.

Northview came out for the second half with a fire, but Parkview’s defense was able to repel several advances. Northview’s Kelsey Hughes did hit the right post eight minutes into the half.

With 23 minutes left in regulation, Iris Gonzalez of Parkview made a beautiful cross to Alex Ober whose shot was caught by the keeper.

Ober provided a cross with minutes left in the game across the box to Kiki Nelson who narrowly missed a header. The Titans’ keeper dropped the ball as it rolled past the post and out of bounds.

Regulation ended 0-0.

Neither team could get a shot anywhere around the 18-yard box in overtime. Northview and Parkview both held their back lines throughout the night.

Parkview Coach Judson Hamby recognized the defensive effort by his team. “Garner’s performance in goal was very solid,” he said. “She’s just a freshman, and our defense is made up of freshmen and sophomores,. which says a lot about our back line.”

In the shootout, Parkview’s Cherelle Jarrett’s penalty shot was touched by the goalkeeper’s fingertips but it muscled its way in. Garner blocked Northview’s first penalty kick by Jesse Grossman.

Ober’s shot sailed over the top bar. Northview then converted its second and third attempts.

Iris Gonzalez’s shot hit the top post and rebounded out. Stephanie Guiterrez shot was blocked by the keeper.

Northview’s Hannah Edwards sealed the game with her penalty.

“It was a tough loss,” Hamby said. “We lost to them last year; I thought we played better last year. This year we played well but it came to penalties. Soccer is a cruel game and it has to end in penalties.”

“It was all about momentum, we had momentum with that first block but we tanked our shots,” said Hamby.

Parkview girls no longer have the aura of invincibility they once had. But  fans can rest assured that Coach Hamby will not stop in his quest for Parkview’s chance at a title next year.