An outstanding and memorable season came to an end for the Norwalk girls soccer team Thursday as the Warriors lost a 1-0 decision to Waverly-Shell Rock in the semifinal round of the Class 2A Girls State Soccer Tournament at Cownie Soccer Complex. The game was broadcast live on 94.3 KNIA.
Macy Smith’s well-placed corner kick goal in the 15th minute of the first half proved to be the game winner as the defending state champion Go-Hawks (18-1) clinched a return trip to the title game against top-ranked and unbeaten Dallas Center-Grimes on Saturday.
Norwalk, which outshot Waverly-Shell Rock 13-2 on goal and 20-3 overall, controlled possession for most of the match but simply couldn’t find the back of the net against tall and rangy Go-Hawk goalie Katelyn Eggena, who has allowed just four goals all season.
The third-ranked Warriors bowed out in the 2A state semifinals for the second straight year, finishing 17-4 overall.
“We’re sad… I think a little anger in there as well,” said Norwalk head coach Andrew Messer of his team’s post-game emotions. “We just couldn’t finish. We had so many opportunities and just couldn’t get it in the back of the net.”
The Warriors will say goodbye to 10 senior players and one senior manager.
“Overall, (we are) sad about the fact that we’re going to be sending so many seniors off to college,” Messer added “Happy that it happened, but there’s definitely some tears shed [and] some tears to be shed. Losing is not the right word, but there’s a lot of girls (in) our family that are moving on to bigger and better things. It’s a sad time. We’re happy for them, but it’s hard to keep the tears back.”
Smith’s left-footed corner kick from the right sideline sailed over Norwalk goalie Ellie Dueland and curled just inside the left post with 25:28 left in the first half for the game’s only score. Coach Messer called Smith’s effort “a perfect shot.”
The Warriors threatened to score on four second-half corner kicks of their own and several other chances as well, but Eggena and Waverly’s back line of defense were always up to the challenge.
Messer said that Norwalk practiced kicking shots low and wide in preparation for trying to score against Eggena’s length and reach.
“Obviously anything that was shoulder height she was going to grab,” he said. “There were a few opportunities that maybe some other keepers might have let through, but she didn’t, and unfortunately we just couldn’t replicate what we wanted to (do).”
Messer reiterated just how special this year’s tight-knit senior group was to him, noting that most of the class has played soccer together since the second grade.
“I don’t want to take anything away from all the players, but this group of seniors – going all four years, going through COVID together, going through so many different things together – being able to give each other hugs at the very end of it, that means something to me,” Messer said. “That’s going to mean a lot more than any championship, so I’m just super proud of them. I love every single player on the team. I’m sad that it’s done, but I’m happy that it happened.”