Women’s Soccer: Pratt Beats CCC in Penalty Kick Shootout

The season came to an end for the Central Community College women's soccer team on Saturday as the Raiders lost 7-6 in a penalty kick shootout at Pratt (Kan.) Community College in the Region VI tournament.

The shootout became necessary after 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtime sessions without a goal.

After two rounds, the teams were even at 1-1 as both teams came up empty in the first round. In the seventh round, CCC moved ahead 5-4 on Courtney Alrich's kick while Pratt's Reyna Meraz missed. However, according to CCC head coach Jamie Bennett, the officials said that Raiders goalie Rachel Willette left early and allowed Meraz to kick again. This time she made it and the shootout was tied at 5-5. In the ninth round and the shootout tied at six apiece, CCC's Madison Garrow missed her kick while Pratt's Briana Zuniga made her kick and the Beavers got the win, 7-6.

"Physically, I thought we played as well as we could have," said Bennett. "Had we made fewer mental mistakes I think we would have won. Losing is never good, but if the girls give you everything they have and play as hard as they can, it's a little easier pill to swallow."

The Raiders outshot the Beavers, 14-10, with Willette facing five shots on goal and making five saves. Pratt netminder Paige Strausberg faced seven shots and recorded seven saves. Each team attempted three corner kicks.

The loss gives the Raiders a 2-7-1 final mark for the 2021 season.

"I thought the girls really persevered this year," said Bennett. "We had some girls that couldn't make it because of COVID. We had injuries to some key players, some were season-ending. The thing I love about the girls is that they played hard and played wherever they were asked to. They always put the team first."