The Munford Middle girls’ soccer team’s season came to an end Monday with a 6-0 loss to White Station Middle in the sectional championship game, but what a season it was.
Munford Middle soccer won a sectional game for the first time in school history (boys or girls), played in the sectional title game for the first time and won the West Tennessee Athletic Conference in dominating fashion for the second straight season.
A 5-4 win last Friday against Germantown Middle School in a sectional semifinal was the highlight of an 11-1-1 season.
Munford Middle fell behind 1-0 before Lizzie “Blue” Westerfield tied the game with a goal and Sarah Ault, the team’s leading scorer for the season, scored three straight to put her team ahead 4-1.
Germantown Middle scored twice on penalty kicks and got another goal to tie it, but Sarah Rice put the ball in the top corner of the net from just outside of the penalty box for the game-winner with two minutes left.
“It was huge deal Friday,” said first-year head coach Mike Jines. “It was an intense game that went back and forth. Girls were crying, jumping up and down. It was a good experience.”
Monday’s title game was played at the brand new Landers SportsPlex at Collierville High School. The soccer field has artificial turf and a large scoreboard.
“I think Monday was overwhelming,” Jines said. “I don’t want to make excuses because they were a good team, but I think the team was on a roller coaster ride that had to come to an end, right?”
Munford Middle beat Haywood Middle 8-1 and Brighton Middle 2-0 last week in the WTAC tournament to finish off a 10-0 record against conference foes. The team scored 73 goals in conference play and the defense, led by goalkeeper Layla Olson, allowed just seven goals.
Emily Spence, Savanna Blackford, Thalia Najera and Rice were each named all-conference and Ault, Olson, J’nya Dowell, Kayce Hollingsworth and Kayley Miller were named to the all-tournament team. Westerfield was the conference tourney’s most valuable player.
