Sacred Heart fell short of achieving a fifth straight state championship after St. Andrew’s Episcopal finally defeated the Lady Crusaders in a rematch of last year’s title game.
St. Andrew’s second-half effort allowed for the Lady Saints to come away with a 3-1 win over Sacred Heart on Saturday.
For St. Andrew’s, it is the first time the Lady Saints have won the 1A/2A/3A state title since 2009. As for Sacred Heart, the loss is just the second time in the last eight years that the Lady Crusaders did not walk away with the title.
“I’m proud of my girls,” Sacred Heart head coach Joe Falla Sr. said. “I love them, and they never once quit. That is what it’s all about. I know we will be back here next year, and it will be a little different.”
St. Andrews open the game with a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute from a corner kick.
Sacred Heart’s lone goal came from an unassisted goal by Gracie Falla in the 16th minute.
After halftime, the Lady Saints broke the game open. In the 42nd minute, St. Andrew’s found an open shot in Sacred Heart’s defense and scored. The Lady Saints then pulled away with their final goal on a crossover to extend their lead 3-1 in the 56th minute.
“WE never cleared the ball out. It was the same thing that happened before [from the first goal]. My message to them was that I wanted the ball cleared out, but we didn’t. We played inside of the penalty area and that is where the problems started.”
Gracie Falla’s early success made her the prime target of St. Andrew’s defense as she was often double-teamed throughout the second half, which kept the Sacred Heart offense stagnant.
“Gracie is a workhouse,” Falla Sr. said. “Forget about her being my granddaughter. She is a player and a workhorse. Without her, this team would be different. I’m proud of her and everyone.”
Sacred Heart finishes the year with a 13-8 overall record and has now won the South State championship five years in a row.
Despite the loss, Falla remained confident in his program and players to make a return to the state championship.
“The program is strong,” Falla Sr. said. “As long as I am in there, I will keep this program strong. I promise you that. We will be here again, and the results will be different.”
JACKSON - The Sacred Heart girls' soccer team fell short of achieving a fifth straight state championship after St. Andrew’s Episcopal finally defeated the Lady Crusaders in a rematch of last year’s title game.
St. Andrew’s second-half effort allowed for the Lady Saints to come away with a 3-1 win over Sacred Heart on Saturday.
For St. Andrew’s, it is the first time the Lady Saints have won the 1A/2A/3A state title since 2009. As for Sacred Heart, the loss is just the second time in the last eight years that the Lady Crusaders did not walk away with the title.
“I’m proud of my girls,” Sacred Heart head coach Joe Falla Sr. said. “I love them, and they never once quit. That is what it’s all about. I know we will be back here next year, and it will be a little different.”
St. Andrews open the game with a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute from a corner kick.
Sacred Heart’s lone goal came from an unassisted goal by Gracie Falla in the 16th minute.
After halftime, the Lady Saints broke the game open. In the 42nd minute, St. Andrew’s found an open shot in Sacred Heart’s defense and scored. The Lady Saints then pulled away with their final goal on a crossover to extend their lead 3-1 in the 56th minute.
“WE never cleared the ball out. It was the same thing that happened before [from the first goal]. My message to them was that I wanted the ball cleared out, but we didn’t. We played inside of the penalty area and that is where the problems started.”
Gracie Falla’s early success made her the prime target of St. Andrew’s defense as she was often double-teamed throughout the second half, which kept the Sacred Heart offense stagnant.
“Gracie is a workhouse,” Falla Sr. said. “Forget about her being my granddaughter. She is a player and a workhorse. Without her, this team would be different. I’m proud of her and everyone.”
Sacred Heart finishes the year with a 13-8 overall record and has now won the South State championship five years in a row.
Despite the loss, Falla remained confident in his program and players to make a return to the state championship.
“The program is strong,” Falla Sr. said. “As long as I am in there, I will keep this program strong. I promise you that. We will be here again, and the results will be different.”
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