After the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference girls championship game, the players from Holy Cross doused their coach with ice water, screamed at the sky, blew kisses to their fans and hugged each other with wide smiles.
Just one problem: They lost.
But that really wasn’t really the point of Good Counsel’s 11-10 double-overtime victory. While the powerhouse Falcons claimed their fourth straight conference crown, the upstart Tartans toasted an extraordinary turnaround, from 4-11 in 2006 to the brink of the WCAC title.
“We had a great season and we played our best,” said Holy Cross senior Kristen Coleman. “We took a great team to overtime. There’s nothing to be unhappy about.”
It was a riveting one-on-one duel between the Fairfield-bound Coleman (six goals) and WCAC Player of the Year Ashley Stodter (five goals). But the ultimate hero was Good Counsel senior Lizzie Kusbit, who scored on a 5-meter shot with 1:35 left in the second 3-minute overtime period, then made a key steal to help wrap it up.
“My goalie always says, it’s harder to save it on your left hip,” said the Colgate-bound Kusbit. “I trust her, so that’s where I shot it. I prayed. It went in.”
Beating junior Kelley Brady was no small feat. The Holy Cross goalie made nine of her 12 saves in the second half. But her Good Counsel counterpart, junior Elaina Ponchione, also rose in the clutch, making two of her 12 saves in the final 1:20.
“Holy Cross finished 18-2. That’s a hell of a turnaround,” said Good Counsel coach Mike Haight.”Hats off to them and their coach (Susan Decker). They believed they could win. We just fought a little harder at the end.”
Falcons soar
» Good Counsel (17-3) also got strong play from senior Lauren Fenlon (three goals).
» GC trailed in the final minute of regulation, but Stodter passed to junior Mary Swarthout for a goal that sent the game to overtime.
» Junior Molly McGarvey blocked Holy Cross’ final attempt, a 5-meter shot at the buzzer by Sallie Kimmitt.
