SUMRALL – The chances are pretty good that Sumrall and West Lauderdale will meet again just three weeks from now in the Class 4A State Championship game.
But until then, the Lady Knights played the part of the defending champs as they ended Sumrall's 13-game winning streak on Monday night by defeating the Lady Bobcats 1-0.
It was the first time this season that the Lady Bobcats had been shut out. Sumrall had notably outscored opponents 74-5 during its win streak.
"I think they came out with a point to prove that they were the defending champions," Sumrall coach Todd Siders said. "Until they lose it, that's still them. I think we've had a lot of praise this year, and rightfully so. But I think we came out and kind of took it for granted. That's on me. That can't happen. We warned them that they were going to be a good ball club. We had chances to score and then give up a fluke goal. All of a sudden they are riding high, and it was hard for us to come back."
There was no shortage of opportunities for Sumrall either, as the Lady Bobcats outshot West Lauderdale in both halves, with the final total tallying at 12-5. Sumrall also had four free kicks and three corner kicks in the second half alone.
"To me, it looked like a team that came out here wanting to beat us," Siders said. "We didn't come out here and answer that kind of challenge and dug ourselves into a hole. Credit to them because they made it very difficult for us tonight."
Five of Sumrall's six shots were on goal in the first half, which the Lady Knights capitalized on.
The Knights' lone goal came in the game's 18th minute as a 30-yard throw-in set up a shot for West Lauderdale. After being initially blocked, the ball took an awkwardly high bounce that set up the goal.
"The girl throws it 30 yards, and we never make an adjustment," Siders said. "That's one that we have to come down with. That ball can't bounce around in the box, so we'll learn from it and get better."
Sumrall outshot West Lauderdale 6-1 in the second half, with several opportunities opening up in the final 10 minutes, but no shots fell through, with the Lady Knights' defense keeping Sumrall from setting up its offense.
"They outhustled us," Siders said." I certainly don't think we played well, and I think (West Lauderdale) had a lot to do with that. They hustled to the ball and closed down our passing lanes. We really didn't adjust to it. We were slow on the ball tonight. We were a little bit static in our movements, and that is uncharacteristic of us. They made it difficult for us."
The most concerning part of the loss for the Lady Bobcats is that it comes just a little over a week before the playoffs commence, but Siders is confident his team will grow from it.
"I'd rather it be now than in the playoffs," Siders said. "There are lessons to be learned. I thought early on in the game we had good opportunities to score to kind of put them on their back foot, and you don't. We made a mistake on the back, and they scored. That's kind of the blueprint that I feel like can get us in trouble in the playoffs. For us, we have to be mature. We have to flush this, learn from it, and make sure we don't repeat this in the playoffs.
"The message (to the team) is simple: if you do this again, then your season is over. We have to get back to playing the way we can play."
Sumrall will travel to play Biloxi next Tuesday for its final game of the regular season.
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