Golden Falcons drop PK decision to Richlands

By Brandon Davis
Published in Sports on May 11, 2016 1:48 PM

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bdavis@newsargus.com

PIKEVILLE -- McKenzie Norris knelt on the ground behind the goal.

The Charles B. Aycock freshman goalie watched her teammates run to her after she fought for five minutes in a penalty-kick shootout.

"I honestly thought I wasn't going to get any of them because I've never seen a pk (penalty kick) before in my life. And then go out there and saving two of them was really big to me," Norris said, who blocked 28 shots in a thrilling 4-2 overtime loss against Richlands during the first round of the NC High School Athletic Association 3-A playoffs on Tuesday evening.

"The best thing about it, my defense played the best," she said. "Our defense was very good tonight."

The Golden Falcons entered the game with fueled aggression, attacking the goal and aggravating opponents for 40 minutes, picking up one goal and allowing one from the Wildcats.

A Richlands player fouled freshman Hannah Spier five feet from the goal. Senior Sabrina Johnson set up for the PK and fired the ball past Wildcats goalkeeper Kat Conrad with 20 minutes left in the first half.

Spier and Johnson continued driving to the goal, and the Golden Falcons cranked up the defense. Richlands swarmed the goal for 38 minutes in the second half.

That's when Wildcats sophomore Madison Thompson launched a direct shot, tying the game at 1-all.

Overtime.

Both teams swapped possession for the two 10-minute halves. The 1-1 trend continued in the two five-minute halves before the nerve-racking PK shootout sent worry through CBA players and fans.

Norris held her arms out and bent her knees as Richlands junior Aryelle Bell waited for the referee's whistle. The ball flew past Norris and Wildcats led 1-0.

Johnson blasted the ball past Conrad. Golden Falcons head coach Byron Adkins exhaled with relief as his team tied the game at 1-all.

Freshman Candace Pierce kicked the ball toward the goal, but Norris denied the shot, putting a smile on the CBA goalie's face.

Golden Falcons freshman Lauren Smith hit the post with her kick, and Wildcats sophomore Esperanza McKay connected with the corner net.

Richlands led 2-1.

Junior Kennedy Sherman scored for CBA, but Norris was only able to stop one more shot. Thompson launched the ball past Norris, and the Wildcats celebrated a first-round playoff win, 3-1.

"This is actually my second year as head coach," said Stan Smith, who experienced his first penalty kick shootout with his Richlands team. "I told the girls to keep working. They did a good job of getting behind the ball, and it was very hard for us to get some shots. We were doing the right thing. We just had to be patient."

The Wildcats face Rocky Mount in a second-round playoff game Thursday.

"It's probably one of the best games I've been involved in since I've been here," Adkins said. "I've never been in PKs. The ladies worked hard tonight. It was a great game. We played them (Richlands) for the boys, and they beat the boys, too, 4-3, and last goal, last second of the game. They've knocked me down twice this year.

"Penalty kicks are unfair to both teams. I think whoever loses, it's unfair. I told them, 'hey, who wants to take PKs?' And they raised their hands, and I don't put a lot of pressure on them. They made up their minds they wanted to do it. I told them, 'hey, have a good time'."