MONTGOMERY, Ala. - No. 1 seeded and No. 1 nationally ranked Martin Methodist ended Bethel's season Wednesday in the SSAC Championship Semifinals in Montgomery, Alabama with a 2- 1 overtime win over the Lady Wildcats.
The Lady Wildcats gave the RedHawks all they wanted for the 90 minutes but the top-ranked Hawks scored the game winner one minute and eight seconds into the overtime to prevail over the courageous Wildcats.
Riko Sagara gave the Hawks a 1-0 at the 39:28 mark in the first period. Bethel did not have a shot on goal for the first 42 minutes but found some magic in the last three minutes of the period. Natani Tomlinson Traill tied the game with a PK score with 33 seconds left in the period. The Bethel defense behind keeper Danielle Krzyzaniak kept the Lady Cats in the period. MMC had entered the match outscoring their opponents 102-11 on the season.
Defense was the name of the game in the second period as both squads failed to score.
It would be MMC's Miko Sunaga who would break the hearts of the Lady Wildcats scoring the game winner 68 seconds into the extra period.
MMC outshot Bethel 18-2 and had a 9-2 advantage in shots on goal.
Bethel's season ended at 12-6 while Martin Methodist moved to the finals against No. 3 seeded William Carey who defeated Mobile in the other semifinal match. MMC moved to 19-1 on the season.
Highlights of the season:
Bethel won their first seven games.
Janine Dennis was named SSAC Newcomer of the Year.
Dennis and Danielle Krzyzaniak were named to the SSAC All-Conference squad. It was the third straight year Krzyzaniak earned the award.
Natani Tomlinson Traill was named to the second team all-conference squad.
Brittany Bray and Jodi Butler were named to the SSAC All-freshman team.
Traill, Paula Ferracini, Danijela Kolaric, Faith Williamson, Destiny Morris and Melinda Sopka were named to the SSAC All-Academic Team.
Seniors Katie Brown, Danielle Krzyzaniak, Melinda Sopka, Natani Tomlinson-Traill and Michelle Minchella all had outstanding senior seasons for Bethel. Sopka had eight goals on the season and finished her career with 25. Krzyzaniak completed her career with 459 saves.
Coach Misty Aird captured her 200th career win with Bethel's 2-1 win the quarterfinals of the championships.
