Girls Soccer Makes History With Sectional Title

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GHS girls soccer team posing with their sectional championship trophy.

Madalyn Nolan, Editor-in-Chief

  For the first time in Griffith High School history, the girls soccer team won the sectional championship title. On Saturday, October 6, the varsity team went head-to-head with their rival team: the Highland Trojans. This rivalry has gone back for decades, making this game one for the books.

  The championship game started as most games do, nervous players out on the field, each team making silly mistakes and falling in the mud due to the downpour that started during the National Anthem. During the first half, Highland’s senior Mackenzie Pickens scored, making the score 1-0. Before the first half ended, senior Aary Cano tied the game with a goal on Trojan keeper, senior Morgan Rinkema. There were no goals scored during the second half, sending both teams into a shootout.

  During the previous weeks, the Panthers practiced their penalty shots, perfecting their shots and tricks. Freshmen Emily Vasilak and Abby Prunty, juniors April Mendoza and Jenna Dye, and senior Nina Stosic were chosen to take the PK’s for their team. Griffith won the shootout 4-3, with sophomore goalkeeper Mackenzie Rooke saving all but one shot. Dye had the winning shootout goal, sending the team and fans into shock, cheers, and tears. For the first time in GHS girls soccer history, a sectional title was won. Between being the underdog team, playing against a lifetime rival, and the weather conditions, this game will forever live in the hearts and minds of both the players and spectators.

  “It was a really scary experience to be chosen as a freshman to take a PK,” said Prunty. “I thought my coach was going to choose one of the older girls with more experience and skill, but I ignored everything around me and took the shot anyways. When we won, I was so happy because this had never happened before for Griffith. I was shocked that it happened, but I always knew we could do it. I hope that next year we can win again and advance further.”

  At the fall sports awards on Tuesday, October 30, senior Nina Stosic was awarded ‘Best Mental Attitude’, juniors April Mendoza and Jenna Dye received ‘MVP’, sophomore Alyssa Johnson received ‘Most Improved’ for varsity, and freshman Kya Osborne received ‘Most Improved’ for JV. The senior banquet will be held on November 18 at St. Mary’s Hildebrant Hall.

Girls soccer seniors Madalyn Nolan, Macie Miller, Aary Cano, Tyra Gonzalez, and Nina Stosic with their coaches Glenn Maglish, Hillary Campbell, and Mitch Prunty.