Lakeside Suffers First Loss in Penalty Shootout at Marist, Girls Fall 2-1

In a contest of top-10 teams, No. 6-ranked (AAAA) (12-1-1) snatched a dramatic overtime equalizer, but lost in a penalty shootout on the road to No. 2-ranked (AAAA) Marist (13-0) Tuesday night. This was the school's first defeat of the season and all but ends the Vikings' chances of winning the Region 6-AAAA title.

Matthew Peng scored in the first half to pull the visitors even, 1-1, before teammate Nick Harris handed the underdogs a lead shortly after the break. Marist struck back with a penalty to send the game into overtime.

With a shootout looming, Agyeman Botchway's second goal of the night looked to have secured a War Eagles win, but Eval Schecter's free kick moments later skipped past a sea of legs and into the net for the 3-3 tie.

In the shootout, Lakeside only converted two spot kicks, losing out 3-2. Despite the defeat, Vikings coach Rick Barbe was full of praise for his players, who were close to handing Marist a first loss of the season.

"Our goals are all postseason and we want to get better each time," he said. "Having this game towards the end of the season is a measure of how close we are to the championship form we want to be, and I think we couldn't be much closer."

Marist, the 2009 state champs, went in a 7th-minute lead when Botchway powered home a close-range header from a throw in. However, the Vikings recovered and were back on level terms minutes later, as Peng beat the keeper to force the ball across the line.

From there, both teams had a host of chances as the game opened up and it was the visitors who seized the initiative. Harris struck in the 46th minute for a 2-1 lead, which Lakeside held until Marist were awarded a penalty 20 minutes later, converted by Thomas Withorn.

Marist carried its momentum into the second period of overtime, when Botchway latched on to a through ball, raced into the penalty and buried a low shot into the bottom corner. 

The frenzied celebrations were cut short, however, as Schecter squeezed home free kick that, like the preceding goal, caused fans to run on to the field.

In the shootout, Marist goalkeeper Vaughn Moore saved two kicks to preserve his team's unbeaten record.

Lady War Eagles 2, Lady Vikings 1 

Although the Lakeside girls were narrowly edged, they claimed a morale-boosting milestone – a first goal against the Lady War Eagles for six years. 

"It's a huge accomplishment to have this for us," said Lady Vikings coach Ansley Smith. "We want to win but it's a great decision against Marist."  

That goal, scored in the first half by Rebecca Chambers, gave Lakeside a 1-0 lead, which led Marist to attack relentlessly to match a backs-to-the-wall defensive performance from the visitors.

Marist forward Mary Beth Bleekrode came to her team's rescue, scoring both goals that kept her team undefeated in the region. Her first, in the 12th minute, saw the forward steer a loose ball past the keeper. 

The winning goal, coming after the Lady War Eagles had missed a number of chances, was a fine solo effort from distance that flew into the top corner.

In total, Marist outshot Lakeside 20-8. Lakeside goalkeeper Raleigh Knight was a major factor in the close score line, her saves coming thick and fast in the second half.

Both teams are off for the rest of the week for spring break before returning to conclude the region schedule. Lakeside (9-4-1 overall, 7-2 region) will be looking to improve its playoff prospects while Marist (11-0) can wrap up the region title.