It had to end somewhere.
Though they had hoped it would last for a few more matches, an amazing soccer season for the West Forsyth girls varsity came to an end last week with a 2-0 loss to top-ranked Cornelius Hough in the fourth round of the NCHSAA 4-A state playoffs.
The setback, only the third in 25 matches for coach Scott Bilton’s team this year, brought a close to the best season in Titan girls soccer history. By knocking off Lake Norman earlier in the week, the Titans collected three playoff wins and went deeper into the state playoffs than any team before them.
Challenging an undefeated Hough team (23-0-2) on the road, West battled hard and pressured the Huskies defense in the earlygoing. They actually outshot their opponents 6-3 in the second half.
But Hough, ranked second in the nation according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, produced the only goal they would need at the 32-minute mark. They added an insurance score six minutes later.
West advanced to play Hough by knocking off Lake Norman 1-0 in a round three match that was played in Clemmons.
The contest went to overtime before senior forward Alison Price broke the scoreless tie with a goal. The score came with only seven seconds left in the first OT period.
The loss brought a close to the prep soccer careers of West seniors Price, Amanda Duke and Hannah Stewart. All three played pivotal roles in West’s success in recent years. The Titans have won four conference titles in a row.