Lady Arrow soccer team ends season with tough loss to Tupelo
By Danny C. Davis
The Clinton High School Lady Arrow soccer team hoped to advance back to the Class 7A Girls state championship game this season, but fell just short in a heartbreaking loss to Tupelo in the opening Class 7A North Girls playoff round at Tupelo.
The Lady Arrows battled the Tupelo Lady Wave in a defensive struggle for 80 minutes of regulation, followed by two 10-minute overtime periods, and then two five-minute “sudden death” overtime periods, with the score still tied 0-0.
The playoff game was eventually decided by shoot out, with five players from each team taking a shot at the goal against the other team’s goalkeeper. Tupelo made all five of their shots, while CHS hit the net only four times, leading the Lady Wave to take the win and advance in the playoffs. That ended Clinton’s season at 14-6-3 overall, and an 8-2 record in Region 2-7A.
“I am proud of the way the girls played, and we had an excellent year,” said Lady Arrow head soccer coach Elliot Rimmer. “The girls grew as the season progressed and put together a campaign that we felt had the potential to challenge for another state championship. “
“That, unfortunately, did not end up being the case, but that is the way the game goes sometimes. We played a great game up at Tupelo. We created the chances we wanted to create and denied Tupelo any solid chances to win the game in regulation. But we just couldn’t get the ball into the back of the net,” said Rimmer. “And that was the difference.”
Seniors that played their last game at Tupelo included Kayla Jones, Ruby Acy and Carly Howell.
“We are proud of our seniors and what they accomplished over their years with our program,” said Rimmer.
Rimmer said key returners next year include rising senior goalkeeper Ellyn Burchfield, rising senior midfielder Ellise Thomas, and rising senior defender Taylor Robinson, a three-year starter.
Other returning starters include sophomore Emily Fortenberry, junior Joelle Ambrose, junior Cate Johnson, sophomore Leah Strickler, sophomore Alex Holmes and sophomore Ja’Milah Williams.
Said Rimmer, “We’ll take some time off now and rest and recover from a long season. But now we are looking forward to next year, and we know that, if we can answer a few question marks, that we will be right back in the thick of things in regards to challenging for state title.”
“We have plenty of starters returning, as well as some young players that will have had a year to grow and develop that we are hoping will begin to contribute in a major way next season,” said Rimmer.
