Lady Knights Soccer Team Loses Heartbreaker In
Sub-State Playoff

Arab and Southside battle for ball control during playoff game Tuesday night.
Photos by Dwight Hayes

May 3, 2006
A hard fought season, that saw the Arab Lady Knights varsity soccer team reach number five in the state 5A soccer rankings for a time, ended Tuesday night as the Lady Knights lost the sub-state playoff opener to Southside High School of Gadsden by a score of 2-1.  Southside managed the winning goal with a minute and forty-six seconds left in a second overtime period.

Anna Meinert scored the single goal for Arab early in the first half of play.  Southside scored to tie the game in the second half.  Although Arab dominated ball control and field position throughout most of the game, the score was tied at the end of regulation play.  The game was suspended for 30 minutes during the second half due to lightning in the area.  The game was allowed to resume after the mandatory safety delay.

Neither team was able to score in the first overtime period.  However, with time running out in the second period, Southside brought the ball into scoring range and managed to punch the ball into the goal for the winning score.

Arab was ranked number seven in the state going into the game.  Coach Jason Guger said he was extremely proud of the girls.  "I am proud to be your coach and proud of what you have accomplished," he told the team after the game.  The loss ended the season for the Lady Knights.  Final 2006 stats are 12-6-1 and final ranking won't be known until after the State Playoff Game. 

Click here to view pictures from the game...