LCS Looks to Next Season After 7-2 Defeat To St. John's
Sat. February 04, 2012 at 7:38 p.m. | By B.J. Pitzen
BY B.J. PITZEN
LEDGER CORRESPONDENT
ORANGE PARK | Lakeland Christian was defeated by Orange Park's St. John's Country Day 7-2 in the Class 1A girls' FHSAA state semifinals on Friday.
"It was a learning experience for us getting to this point," Lakeland Christian coach Jason Streets said. "Next year we know what to shoot for. The girls played their hearts out."
Ball control by the St. John's offense combined with a stifling defense that stopped the Vikings' shot making ability contributed to the defeat.
Senior midfielder Carson Pickett, who is going to Florida State, opened up the onslaught for the Spartans with 32:15 remaining in the first half by hooking a corner kick past the diving arms of Lydia Cagle.
St. John's did not let up as Pickett eventually found the back of the goal again on a 40-yard free kick with 8:13 left to put the Vikings down 2-0 at halftime. Cagle got more action than she did all season against the Spartans, who shot 17 times in the first half and continued the barrage in the second.
"That's (Pickett is) the best player I've ever seen," Cagle said. "I just try to keep as many (shots) out as I can. Some of the kicks were just really good, some goals were my fault and others were because of a problem with defense."
Streets, who reached the state semifinals for the first time in eight seasons, encouraged his players during the halftime break to stay in the game despite only getting three shots in.
"Girls, it takes one goal and the momentum shifts," Streets said. "Don't stop believing."
Despite coming back in two out of three regional matchups to advance, the Vikings' hopes of getting back into the contest ended abruptly with 37:38 to play in the second half as junior midfielder Mallory Bane hit the third and decisive goal for the Spartans to knock the wind out of Streets' pep talk.
"That third goal killed us, but next year will be a good ride" Streets, who is returning his entire team except for one senior, said. "Hopefully next year it'll be St. John's and us in the (state) finals."
St. John’s didn’t stop coming at LCS (21-5-2) as Pickett scored her third goal on an assist by Ellen Crist with 32:01 on the clock. Crist in turn scored 40 seconds later on an assist by Pickett to give St. John’s a 5-0 lead.
“I’m not a very physical player,” Pickett, who does not have a left arm, said. “I have to excel in the technical part of the game. My dad (Coach Mike Pikett) taught me ball skills at a young age.”
Coach Pickett, who helped guide the Spartans to the 2009 state championship and two others in 14 years at the helm, directed the attack that allowed the Vikings to take only seven total shots on goal.
“We’re a possession team,” Coach Pickett said. “This is our best attacking team since I’ve been here.”
Coach Pickett pulled the majority of his starters around 25:00, which gave the Vikings some daylight. LCS finally got on the board with 16:06 in the second half as sophomore Olivia Wiles dribbled from 45-yards out to inside the box sending a hard kick into the back of the net past McCurry.
Carson Pickett came back in the game and scored on an assist by Ellen Crist with 7:34 remaining.
Sophomore Sydney Rayborne added a goal for LCS with 4:48 left as senior Ellen Sharpe contributed the assist.
Megan Rogers scored a solo goal for St. John’s with under two minutes to play to end the scoring with St. John’s ahead by five.
“Our team came together in ways I’ve never seen us play together,” Sharpe, who played in her final game, said. “We played with so much heart and passion for the game and for each other. I just feel like while trying to play as a team, we became a family. I’m proud of how our season went and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Sharpe exuded her gratefulness to Streets and assistant coach Kevin Wasilewski for bringing team unity.
“Together, they (Streets and Wasilewski) made us what we are today,” Sharpe said. “They showed us what it’s like to be united to the team.”
The Vikings' season ends with a hard-fought loss and St. John’s will travel to the University of South Florida Friday to play Palmer Trinity, which defeated South Florida Heat 7-6 on penalty kicks, in the Class 1A state championship game at 5 p.m. in Corbett Stadium.
