Bloodhounds Get Bounced

THE LEDGER 

AUBURNDALE | When the referee's final whistle blew with the score in favor of Rockledge, 3-2, some Auburndale players burst out into tears.

 

Some sluggishly jogged over to the sidelines, their expressions solemn after realizing that their season, the best in 10 years at Auburndale, was over.

 

But not captain Jamie Paton, who, after the game thanked her seniors for all their hard work.

 

"You gave us our best season," said Paton, seated amongst teammates in a semi-circle after coach Steve Linaman expressed how proud he was of the effort that evening. "We're so proud of you guys."

 

The sentiment was certainly felt in return.

 

Even though the Bloodhounds had just been ousted from the Class 3A playoffs and the team had a reason to be upset — they missed some good opportunities to score and they made one little mistake that turned into a lucky goal for Rockledge early on — Paton still managed to put on a happy face for her group.

 

For the midfielder, playing at this point in the season was an accomplishment in itself.

 

Paton, also a senior, played with a torn meniscus in her right knee weeks after hurting herself during a play at practice. The injury happened less than six months after she tore her anterior cruciate ligament in the same leg, a year after tearing meniscus and cartilage in her left.

 

"I know it's been tough for her mentally, but she's been able to keep her head up," said fellow senior Bre Eldridge, who scored both goals for Auburndale. "I don't know if I could do that after a third time. She kept us in this race the whole time."

 

It ended against Rockledge, which came in down four starters because of injuries but got goals from Jordan Humbert, Myiah Richard and Jazelle Richard.

 

It didn't end on a sour note for Paton.

 

"I'm so proud of the season we had and I think it's the start of something big for this program," Paton said.

 

That includes winning a district title, the team's first in 10 years, and a top 10 state ranking by ESPN.

 

"I'm not disappointed with the way we finished. We left it all out on the field," Paton said.

 

"That's all I could ask for," Linamen said.