FLOWEREE BRANCH, Ga. — The season didn't end the way No. 3 Cherokee Bluff wanted it to end.
The Lady Bears suffered a blowout 7-0 loss to No. 1 Lovett on Thursday in the Class 4A semifinals at Yona Field.
Coach Heath Padgett didn't have much to say after that.
“I wasn’t feeling great tonight,” Padgett said. “We lost to a better team.”
Lovett's offense was too powerful even for the strong Bluff defense. The Lady Lions scored 121 goals on the season (7.1 goals/game) and 21 through the first three rounds of the playoffs. They averaged a point against the Lady Bears.
Both teams had chances early on. Lovett continued to attack from the first kick, taking two shots in the first two minutes, but both missed the left side. Bluff's first chance came in the seventh minute, when Bristol Kirsch slipped through Lovett's defense and fired a left-footed shot into the box. However, Helen Shearer of the Lady Lions made the save.
The next 10 minutes were a midfield battle until Lovett was able to jump into the bluff box. Bluff keeper Emily Benjamin made a diving save on the first shot, but Ridley Newton converted the rebound for a 1-0 lead in the 17th minute.
The Lady Bears had a great chance in the 29th minute when Kirsch dribbled through the defense again. However, the first shot was blocked and the second shot within five yards narrowly went over the crossbar.
Lovett was able to break free a little in the final nine minutes, scoring two goals, including one with 2:37 left in the first half for a 3-0 lead.
Bluff had a solid chance for a 40-yard free kick with 10 seconds left, but Shearer was able to contain the ball as it ricocheted just in front of the horn.
Lovett had 12 shots in the first half. Braff took six shots, and Karsh made three of four of them.
The Lady Lions basically put the game away right away in the second half, scoring in just 40 seconds to take a 4-0 lead. After 10 minutes, they left little doubt, scoring twice in a span of 19 seconds to push the lead to 6-0 with 31:32 remaining.
However, after allowing six goals in the first 49 minutes, Bluff's defense, which increased its intensity for the rest of the game, allowed only one goal in the final 31 minutes.
Mason Bosworth paced the Lady Lions that night with a hat trick. Newton scored two goals, and Caitlin Nixon, who replaced Lovett, also scored.
Benjamin unofficially finished the night with 13 saves for Bluff.