Monarchs lose on penalty kicks
By RANDY GONZALES
Still nothing was decided after four overtimes and 110 minutes of play.
Then, after a few short minutes, the Thomas More Prep-Marian girls' soccer team saw its season come to an end -- just like that.
The Monarchs lost 2-0 on penalty kicks to Wichita West after neither team could break a 2-2 tie after regulation in Monday's playoff contest at TMP field.
TMP-Marian coach Jairo Arias, a veteran youth league coach before taking over the Monarch program in 2006, wasn't sure when he last had a match decided by penalty kicks.
"Geez no, I don't remember," Arias said. "I can't remember the last time."
Wichita West (5-12) advanced to today's match at No. 2 Wichita-Trinity (15-1-1) in South Central Regional 2 of the Class 5-1A State Championships.
TMP-Marian (5-9) took a 2-0 lead in the match's first 15 minutes, but couldn't hold it.
"I thought after the first 15 minutes we had a chance to win the game," Arias said.
In the 11th minute, sophomore Emily Volker received a cross from senior Mayra Guzman and scored to give the Monarchs the early lead.
In the 15th, Volker scored again after making a run through the heart of Wichita West's back line.
Wichita West responded with two quick goals. The first came on a set piece in the 27th minute, with freshman Cassandra Raigosa serving the ball into the box for sophomore Michelle Mejia, who scored to make it a one-goal game.
The Pioneeers got the equalizer in the 28th on a goal by junior Lulu Meadows.
It stayed 2-2 the rest of the way, through 80 minutes of regulation, two 10-minute overtimes and, finally, two five-minute overtimes before going to PKs.
Both teams had their chances but couldn't finish.
Sophomore Rachel Weber was denied by Pioneer junior goalkeeper Myla Gayer in the 54th. Weber received a through ball from Volker, but her shot from the top of the box was deflected by a diving Gayer.
Volker made a run in the 62nd, beating two defenders on the right side, but couldn't finish.
In the 65th, it was Volker again, receiving a pass from Guzman at the top of the penalty area. But Gayer came off her line, forcing Volker to take a hurried chip shot which sailed over the crossbar.
It was Volker again in the 69th, this time making a run down the left side, beating two defenders, but was unable to finish.
"I really thought we were going to" score, Arias said. "I thought Emily Volker had a couple opportunities by herself."
Wichita West had a scoring opportunity in the 73rd after a long goal kick by Gayer gave sophomore Rainy Reyes a shot on goal, but Monarch senior keeper Sarah Zerr made the diving save.
TMP-Marian had one last chance in regulation, with Volker making a run off a free kick. Volker's angled shot from the left side of the box missed going inside the far post.
In the first overtime, Wichita West's best chance came in the 88th on a shot by Reyes, but Zerr came up with the save. For the Monarchs, senior Carrie Ellard started a run on the left side from her back line spot but the last Pioneer defender cleared the ball.
In the second overtime, Volker started a run from deep inside the Monarchs' side of the field, but shot wide of the goal.
A poor corner kick by the Pioneers in the third overtime gave Volker another chance in the 92nd. She made a long run, beat two defenders before being dispossessed by the Pioneer back line.
Perhaps the best chance for either side to end it before PKs came in the 93rd, when TMP-Marian put together a pretty passing combination, but couldn't finish. Senior Brittany Lang distributed the ball to Weber on the right side. Weber found senior Jari Jimenez open in the middle, but Jimenez couldn't get a clean touch on Weber's cross, allowing Gayer to recover and come off her line to secure the ball.
In the penalty kicks, TMP-Marian went first, with Volker hitting the ball over the cross bar. Wichita West took a 1-0 lead when Raigosa's shot beat Zerr low to the left post.
Zerr took the second PK, but was denied by Gayer. Zerr atoned for her miss by stopping junior C.J. Bayliff on Wichita West's second PK.
Senior Therese Campbell was up next for the Monarchs, but her hard shot was wide left of the goal. Wichita West made it 2-0 when junior Hannah Johnson beat Zerr low to the left post.
TMP-Marian had to make its next two penalty kicks and deny both of Wichita West's PKs to stay alive, but Weber's shot was right at Gayer, who made the easy save.
"I thought we did a terrible job on penalty kicks," Arias said. "I think it was pressure, had a lot to do with it."
TMP-Marian's five victories are a three-game improvement over last year's 2-10 season. The Monarchs finished with 24 goals after scoring 11 last year. The Monarchs also played their first home games this year, and first playoff game, also at home.
"I think we had a good season," Arias said. "My expectations were about that of our final record."
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