Hilton Head Prep scores late to go back-to-back with win over John Paul II
By Neill Kirkpatrick
Special to the HSSR
Bluffton – Saturday’s SCISA AAA state championship match between area rivals Hilton Head Prep and John Paul II was their third meeting of the year and was by far the best match as HHP scored the game’s only goal at the 17:18 mark of the second half to win their second consecutive AAA state championship.
The score was tied at Nil in the 63rd minute when HHP’s Riley Wilbert put a shot on goal that bounced off the hands of JP II’s goal keepers TrintyGrace Maxwell onto the waiting right foot of Ashley Brothers, who put the ball into the back of the net for the only goal of the game.
“I tell my girls at every practice to finish strong and that is what they did today. I am so proud of these girls. They had one goal all year and they accomplished it,” said HHP head coach Risa McMillian.
“I could not have asked anymore from my girls. They played their hearts out today and I am so proud of them,” said a dejected JP II head coach Karen Pimentel. “Our girls were looking towards this game since we lost to them 3-0.”
Defense was the name of the game from the opening kick off as each team was focused on keeping the other team’s scorers from getting good looks at the goal and each keeper Maxell for JP II and HHP’s Emily Brothers played beautifully throughout the match.
HHP tested the Lady Warriors defense early as they tried to get the early lead in the match. During the first 10 minutes Ashley Brothers had three corner kicks into the box that were cleared out by the JP II defense and Wilbert missed a shot from the right side.
The Lady Warrior defensive effort was led by Abby Brock, Lauren Weniger, Brady Mahoney, Elizabeth Smith, and Hollis Melnick as they were able to get on their marks and when the ball got into the box they would make several key clears all game.
“We pride ourselves on our defense. They work so tirelessly every game and they keep us in games,: said coach Pimental.
The match flipped to HHP’s side of the field at the 26-minute mark of the first half and HHP’s defense had to step up and make some plays to keep the Lady Warriors off the score board.
JP II’s Ayla Reynolds had a free kick on the Lady Dolphins side of the field and made deep kick towards the HHP’s goal. Melnick charged toward the goal and collided with Emily Brothers, who knocked the ball out of bounds.
Unfortunately, Hollis Melnick landed on her should and left the game with an injury.
After the play JP II would get its best scoring chances of the first half when Reynolds took two shots from 25 yards out with both going over the top of the crossbar. Had either shot been six inches lower JP II would have had a score.
HHP responded with a four shots on goal in the final five minutes of the first half. Caroline Ware shot one over the goal while Evelyn Melnick had three straight shots on goal. The first hit the side of the net, the second went over the cross bar and on the third Maxwell made a great kick save.
The second half was played mostly in the middle of the pitch as both defenses smothered the others offense
The Lady Dolphins defense was led by Millie Cornejo, Alexa Palazzo, Ava Zeoli and Madeline Schlieman. They would not allow the Lady Warriors to get any good looks at the goal in the second half.
After a corner kick by Ware went through the box. HHP’s Wilbert corralled the ball and took a shot at the goal that was knocked down by Maxwell but Ashley Brothers was there for the rebound. She did not waste the opportunity as tallied the only goal of the game.
HHP finished the year at 16-3-1 with their third win of the year of JP II. JP II finished the year at 11-5 and had their four-game winning streak end.
