EARL WATT
• Leader & Times
After rain forced a delay of Monday’s playoff game between Liberal and Wichita Northwest, the two teams continued the game at Redskins Field Wednesday, and a wild finish led to a 3-2 season-ending loss for the Lady Redskins.
The game started Monday evening at 6 p.m., but after only three minutes of play lightning caused a delay. By 8:30 p.m. it was clear the rain and lightning was going to continue for several hours, so the game was rescheduled for Wednesday.
The game started exactly where it left off with the ball near the Lady Redskin goal with 36:11 on the clock.
The two teams had control of the ball about equally throughout the first half, and both teams only had limit opportunities to score a goal.
Both goalkeepers were able to defend early shots, and the game remained scoreless until the final 18 minutes of the first half when Nicole Catalan was fouled about 30 yards away from the goal and had a free kick. Catalan lifted the ball high to the far side of the goal, and the Northwest keeper was able to get a hand on the ball, but it dribbled off her hands and into the side net for a goal and a 1-0 Liberal lead.
But the lead was short lived.
Northwest picked up the intensity after trailing and pushed the ball near the Liberal goal, and after a pair of cross passes sent a shot to the goal and into the net for a 1-1 tie.
Both teams had chances the rest of the half, but a Liberal shot ricocheted off the crossbar, a da Northwest opportunity sailed over the net, and the game was still tied at half.
The second half continued to be a defensive battle with both teams denying any real scoring opportunities until a high arching shot by Northwest was tipped by the Liberal keeper but continued off her hands and into the goal with about 30 minutes to play that gave the Lady Grizzlies a 2-1 lead.
The Lady Redskins pushed the ball up the field but could not get a decent shot on goal. Several scoring opportunities sailed wide of the goal, and the Lady Redskins continued to trail 2-1.
But the Lady Grizzlies couldn’t add to their lead, either. The Liberal defense continued to protect the goal which gave Liberal a chance to tie the score as time began to run out.
Lily Guy finally had a breakaway opportunity, and after the Lady Grizzly keeper came about 10 yards outside the box to try challenge the drive, Guy was able to dribble around the keeper and faced an empty net. She tapped the ball in with 1:09 to play to tie the game 2-2.
But the celebration, again, was short. Northwest took the free kick at midfield, headed straight up the middle of the field and scored a goal 12 seconds later which became the game-winning goal, and Liberal lost 3-2.
Liberal ended the season 9-7-1.
