Heading to Transylvania for the second time in four days after wrapping up the regular season with a 2-0 loss, Franklin women's soccer felt confident it could flip the result against the third-seeded Pioneers in Saturday afternoon's HCAC quarterfinal.
The Griz struck first with a goal by senior
Amirah Curry early in the second half, but Transy drew even shortly thereafter and added a golden goal one minute into the second overtime period, sending Franklin home with a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat.
"It was a great effort today from the team," Franklin coach
Jennifer Jackson said. "They bought into the game plan and create some great chances. Tremendous growth from this group of players all season, and I'm excited to see what the future holds."
The first half saw the Grizzlies (6-11-1) outshoot the Pioneers 5-4, including a 3-0 edge in shots on goal. The first of those attempts came from senior
Lauren Barker just one minute into the match. Curry followed with a shot on frame in the 12th minute, and
Kylie Montgomery another off of a corner kick in the 36th minute, but the teams arrived at halftime still scoreless.
That changed just over 10 minutes into the second half, when Franklin counterattacked off a Transy shot and Curry cashed in to give the visitors the lead.
That advantage held up for less than four minutes, as the Pioneers drew even with 31:05 left in regulation. Transylvania kept the pressure on down the stretch, but
Emma Watson made four saves in the final 30 minutes to keep the match deadlocked.
Watson stopped two more shots in the first overtime period, but Transy's Eva Blanke broke through early in the second to dash the sixth-seeded Grizzlies' upset hopes.
The loss did nothing to dampen Jackson's optimism after a season marked by progress from a bunch of underclassmen. Franklin won three of its last four regular-season matches to clinch a postseason spot.
"This is a special group of players and they are going to continue to improve throughout the offseason," the coach said.
The Grizzlies graduate four senoiors: Barker, Curry,
Amani Kincaid and
Emma Myers.
"Our seniors are a wonderful group and we will miss them," Jackson said, "but once a Grizzly, always a Grizzly, so they know they are always part of the family."
