Northside falls in first round to Northgate
The Northside girls soccer team dropped a 7-0 decision against Northgate in the first round of the Georgia High School Association Class 5A playoffs on Wednesday afternoon.
The game was abbreviated to one half due to a lightning delay at halftime.
The two teams alternated scoring chances to start the game before Caroline Peters opened the scoring for Northgate, driving a shot past Northside goalkeeper Katie Mackie off a centering pass from Ryann Smith.
Northgate made it 2-0 on a similar play. Hannah Swenson kicked an outlet pass to Cathleen Hoffman, who had a 2-on-1 break with Lily Barron. The Lady Vikings made it 3-0 on another centering pass and score from the middle of the field as Peters scored her second of the contest with a feed from Gabby Lotter.
Smith scored to make it 4-0 Northgate on a pass from Lauren Anders as she rifled the ball over the head of Mackie and just under the crossbar. Smith would also pick up an assist later on a corner kick, with Cara Rhoad finishing the play off with a header.
Lotter and Anders also scored a goal apiece.
“We know they were going to be tough going into it,” said Northside coach Elizabeth Keller. “Mentally, I don’t think my girls were ready. Today, they were just the better team.”
Keller had a chance to reflect on the season overall, however, and look to a 2017 season that brings in new talent for the Lady Patriots.
“We battled a lot of odds,” she said. “We were a little inconsistent at times, but at least in the region, we stayed consistent. We have some really great seniors and leadership in the back that helped push us through these tough matches. I’m not too disappointed with the season as a whole, but inconsistency shot us in the foot.
“I’ve got some great returnees. I’ve got some younger girls coming in. I’m looking to the future to start over, work harder, and hopefully be back in this position with a better result.”
Northgate 7, Northside 0
Wednesday at Kinnett Stadium
Goals – Northgate: Caroline Peters 2, Lily Barron 1, Gabby Lotter 1, Ryann Smith 1, Cara Rhoad 1, Lauren Anders 1. Assists – Northgate: Smith 2, Anders 1, Cathleen Hoffman 1, Lotter 1, Goalies – Northside: Katie Mackie, 5 saves; Northgate: Lauren Kadlick, 2 saves. Records: Northside 7-8; Northgate 13-5. Next: Northside, end of season; Northgate, vs. Allatoona, May 4.
This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 9:06 PM with the headline "Northside falls in first round to Northgate."