Last year, the Dragons were just a bounce away from the state semifinals before losing in penalty kicks to a Grand Blanc team they out-played in regulation.
This year’s Lake Orion squad was itching to get back to a regional final.
But seemingly before they could get settled in for another deep playoff run, the Dragons are done, eliminated by league rival Rochester Adams in ? you guessed it ? penalty kicks.
The game was scoreless through 110 minutes, which included a half hour lightning delay, prompting the PKs.
Adams jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead before Ashley Poirier cut the deficit in half with two kicks per side remaining.
Adams scored on their next try to make it 3-1 and, when Margaret Verespie’s shot clanged of the goal post, the game was over.
‘It’s frustrating to lose like this a couple years in a row,? said coach Ken Snage, whose team finished the year with a 13-5-4 record.
As heartbreaking as the loss was for Lake Orion, it might have been even worse for Adams.
Consider that in the previous two years, Adams fell at the hands of the Dragons in district play. That, and Adams had six seniors that were missing part of their prom in order to play.
Plus, Adams had over half a dozen great scoring opportunities throughout the game (17 shots on net in total), whereas the Dragons only managed three relatively harmless shots on net during regulation and none in the extra sessions.
‘I thought we should have won in regulation,? Adams coach Juan Delgado said. ‘When you take PKs, you might as well flip a coin.?
Snage compared the newly formed rivalry with Adams to the neighborhood battles LO has had in the past with Clarkston and Oxford.
‘I got to give my friend, Juan, credit,? Snage said. ‘Welcome to the battles.?
The Dragons had to overcome injuries to top players Jenna Hill and Rachel Bemman, the team’s leading goal scorer who was injured in the first of two 15-minute overtime sessions before the PKs.
‘It was tough losing Jenna and it was tough losing Rachel,? Snage said, giving credit to the rest of the team, which certainly went down fighting.
Perhaps the best player on the field was Dragon goalkeeper Ashley Shugar, who came up with 17 saves, including more than a few big ones.
‘She’s flat out the best keeper we’ve ever had,? Snage said, noting that Shugar stole multiple games for the team throughout the season.
It appeared that if the Dragons could some how sneak a late goal in, that scenario would play itself out yet again, but, instead, Lake Orion will hope Shugar and a healthy Bemman and Hill can carry the team to the promise land next year.