REGION X TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONS

Greensboro, NC.. 

Playing with a heavy heart the women's soccer team seemed to have a little more motivation and focus in the Region X Championship game on Sunday against #1 seed Cape Fear CC. The two teams split their contests during the regular season. 

The Lady Pioneers and Caper Fear CC played a match made for an ESPN Instant Classic. Shot after shot went just outside the frame or in the arms of each teams keepers. 

Scoreless at half time, scoreless with 20 minutes left, the same with two minutes, the first overtime period went by, then the second. 110 minutes of  flawless soccer played without a goal and to decide a winner came down to penalty kicks. 

Each team selected five players and alternated shots. SMCsent Danielle Lown, Candace Jones, Kayla Kight, and Shawna Allinger up for the penalty kicks and each drilled home their shot attempts. Tori Waddell (15 saves) saved Cape Fear's very first shot and  Cape Fear missed fired on their fourth attempt sending the Pioneers players, coaches, and fans into a frenzy.. 

Sophomore goalie, Tori Waddell said "There are no words to describe how it feels to win the Region X title. After loosing to Cape Fear in the final last year it was amazing to beat them this year. After all the adversity throughout our season, we stayed together as a family and played our best soccer when it counted most.After we learned of Coach Keneally's father in law passing away, the team knew we had to do it for him. In every huddle, all we could say was let's do it for COACH! He's a great coach but more importantly a great role model and father figure for a lot of the players, fighting hard for him was easy for us." Now, All I have left to say is we are headed to Maryland and LETS GO!. 

A emailed quote from Coach Keneally stated " I am extremely proud of the ladies it means a lot that they fought hard for me and my family. I'm very proud of their hard work all season."