Starr's Mill's

girls soccer team is back on top of the soccer world, though they are

sharing the view.

The Lady Panthers

played Pope in the AAAAA state finals on Saturday night and tied 2-2.

It was Starr's Mill's first championship in AAAAA and first since back

to back AAA titles in 1999 and 2000.

The game also

marked Coach Jill Crepeau's final game at the helm for the Lady Panthers.

Crepeau will coach at Northview High School next year.

Starr's Mill

had yet to give up a goal in the state playoffs but their unscored upon

streak only lasted 15 minutes before Pope scored. Starr's Mill answered

a minute and a half later when Sarah Burke scored after an assist from

Allison Graham. The momentum shifted yet again when Pope scored two minutes

later.

The game went

back and forth for the remaining 20 minutes of the first half. Starr's

Mill would make a run towards the goal and Pope would counter before Starr's

Mill regained possession and made another run. As the half wore down the

play got more and more physical and with nine seconds left in the half

Graham got a yellow card.

Down 2-1 at

the half, Starr's Mill came out fired up and had a number of scoring opportunites

but couldn't capitalize. The Lady Panthers finally broke through near

the 20 minute mark when Graham headed the ball past the Pope keeper to

tie the game. The remainder of the half featured lots of Starr's Mill

pressure and near misses for both teams. The Lady Panthers almost netted

the game winner several times in the final minutes of regulation but couldn't

get it past the keeper.

The two teams

squared off for two ten minute overtime periods and both played out like

the rest of the game. Starr's Mill had great ball control, put lots of

pressure on the Pope defense and just fell short. Pope would counter well

and try to slip their forwards past the Starr's Mill defense. Neither

team could complete the final push for the winning goal and the game ended

in a tie.

There would

be no shootout to determine the winner and it seemed fair. Both teams

played great soccer and deserved the title. The two teams were named co-champions

and will undoubtedly meet at least once again next year. The game will

air tonight on TV33 at 9 p.m.

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