SR season ends with 3-0 loss
SLIPPERY ROCK — Emma Hays threw her arms around Slippery Rock High girls soccer coach Sarah Vermilya and squeezed.
“I'm sorry,” Hays said, holding back tears. “I could have done better.”
Vermilya reassured Hays that that wasn't true.
There was really nothing the Rockets could have done better in a 3-0 loss to Villa Maria Academy in the District 10 Class 2A girls soccer championship game Saturday at Troy-Alan Stadium.
Slippery Rock played even with Villa everywhere but on the scoreboard.
There was nothing the Rockets could have done when their keeper, Bronwyn McCoy, was beat to the ball in the first half, giving Alexa Tojada a clear shot at the net for a 1-0 lead with 6:40 remaining in the first half.
There was nothing the Rockets could have done when Moira Thunell banged a curving shot from just outside the 18 that glanced off the glove of a diving McCoy and trickled into the net for a 2-0 lead five minutes into the second half.
And there was nothing the Rockets could have done when Callie Cacchione took a beautiful cross from Mackenzie Fletcher and finished into a wide open net for an insurmountable 3-0 lead for the Victors a little later.
“You come up short, but I could not be more proud of these girls,” Vermilya said. “That's the kind of girls they are. They want to please you. They want to do everything they can for you. As a coach, I can't ask for more.
“It's every day,” the coach added. “They're out here grinding. They're ready to rock and roll because they love soccer.”
Slippery Rock (14-2) had opportunities against Villa.
Senior Hannah Burtner had a few quality shots that either just missed or were turned away by Villa keeper Taylor DeLuca.
So did Amanda Lewis and several other Slippery Rock players.
“It's a game of inches kind of thing,” Vermilya said. “Unfortunately, we haven't been in a situation like this too often this year — given COVID we were limited to only games in our conference — we weren't in games like this.”
For Villa coach Peter Wagner, there was one key moment.
Getting the 1-0 lead.
“In these games, if you lose you go home, so it's always a little nerve-wracking at the start,” Wagner said. “That first goal is huge. It lets you relax and settle in to the game. You're less stressed on the field.”
Slippery Rock and Villa had roughly the same amount of shots on goal.
“I don't think the final score was a good indication of the way the game went,” Vermilya said. “In my eyes, this was a 1-0 type game.”
Vermilya said even though the season is over, they had a season.
That was in doubt for a time this summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.
And that, she said, made it all worth it.
Even a tough final loss.
“I'm just so pleased that with the unknown of the season how every day they took it seriously,” Vermilya said. “I'm just proud of where we got. I don't think anyone expected it.”
