Munford's Kate Steppe battles a Brighton player for possession. Photo by Jeff Ireland
For a while Monday afternoon in Munford, it looked like the Lady Cougar soccer team was about to see its season end at the hands of its biggest rival.
Taylor Couch scored on a goal assisted by Madisyn Kendall and Brighton led 1-0 late in the first half of a District 14-AAA tournament semifinal game. The winner would move on to the title game and qualify for the region tournament. It would be the end of the season for the loser.
Munford got a goal from Kate Steppe just before halftime to tie the game and Steppe scored again in the second half to lift her team to a 2-1 win.
“The second half started very good for us,” said Munford coach Stan Jamscek. “We came out very aggressive and played much better.”
It was the second time in four teams Brighton and Munford played each other.
In the regular season finale last Friday in Munford, the teams played to a 2-2 draw, which gave Munford the second seed in the district tournament and put Brighton in third.
Just like Monday’s game, Brighton jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Friday.
And also just like Monday, Munford rallied.
Maiya Reed scored twice to put the Lady Cougars ahead 2-1 before Karsen Waddell scored late on a free kick to knot the score at 2-2. Mackenzie Smith, with an assist by Ivy Carson, scored Brighton’s first goal.
Brighton’s season is over. Munford moves on to the District 14-AAA title game Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Arlington, the tournament’s top seed. If Munford wins it will host a region semifinal game on Oct. 20. A loss means the Lady Cougars will travel for their region game.
Munford played Arlington to a scoreless draw during the regular season.
“They’re really good, very well-organized,” Jamscek said about Arlington. “We’ll see how this one goes. I’m positive and I think we can do it, but it’s going to be a difficult game.”
