Verrado girls soccer falls to Campo Verde

Game ends after penalty kicks following 100 minutes of scoreless play

Verrado's Shea Smith lunges toward a penalty kick taken by a Campo Verdo opponent during a penalty kick tie-breaker. Smith made the save on the play.

  

For the second time in three seasons the Verrado girls soccer team fell to the Campo Verde Coyotes in the Division II semifinal game.

  

  The Vipers latest loss to Campo Verde came in a playoff game played at Williams Field High School on Wednesday evening.

  

  The loss ended the Vipers’ bid to repeat as Div. II State Champions.

  

  Campo Verde defeated the Vipers 3-1 on penalty kicks after playing 80 minutes of regulation and two ten minute overtime periods without a goal by either team.
  

  Verrado Head Coach David Hopkinson felt he had the better team.

  “I told the girls after the first half that we had the better team,” Hopkinson said after the game.  “They’re a good team. I thought we were fairly evenly matched. I do think we created more chances”

  

  Verrado outshot Campo Verde but several acrobatics saves by Coyote goal keeper Amanda Canzona kept the Vipers off the scoreboard.

  “[Campo Verde’s] keeper made one of the best saves I’ve ever seen,” Hopkinson said. “Not just for a high school keeper, but any keeper.”

  

  Verrado goalkeeper Shea Smith also had her share of saves by deflecting balls and stopping balls headed toward the goal.

Hallie Shippy

  

  Verrado’s only score during the penalty kicks came off the foot of freshman Hallie Shippy during penalty kicks. Shippy’s shot was initially deflected by Canzano but ricocheted off the crossbar and then off Canzano’s back and rolled into the net. 

  

  Verrado’s keeper Shea Smith faced five Campo Verde penalty kicks and anticipated correctly on most. Two goals were just out of her reach and one was kicked behind her. Shea made one save and another shot hit the post.

  

  “I told the girls we’re a save or two away from winning that game,” Hopkinson said. “Our defense played too good.  Shea’s unbelievable in goal. To play three games and not give up a goal [in open play] is pretty impressive”

  Verrado’s attacks came in waves with some waves challenging Campo Verde multiple times.

  

  “We just couldn’t sustain it for more than a few minutes at a time,” Hopkinson said. “That’s probably on me.”

  Hopkinson added the high level of individual talent led to spurts of activity but the team game had room for improvement.

  “Maybe our issue throughout the season has been we’re so athletic,” Hopkinson said. “We’re so good individually. I don’t know if I did the best job this year to put together a real team game.”

  Hopkinson also acknowledged the success of this year’s senior soccer players. The seniors who played four years went to four state semi finals and won a state championship.

  

  “This might be the last competitive high school soccer game they play,” Hopkinson said. “I told them you can’t feel this bad if you don’t make it this far.

    

  “It still a phenomenal accomplishment. We just came up a little short.”

Verrado's Jessica Farmer pushes the ball toward goal during the first half of Wednesday's girls Div. II Semi-final game.