Diamondbacks strike in OT to top Hawks

MERIDIAN, Idaho – The golden goal was as shocking for Lakeland as it was sparkling for Century in the State 4A girls soccer championship game Saturday.

The Diamondbacks (19-0-2) won the state title for the second time in three years when Sunny Katsilometes capped her high school career by breaking the plane of the goal line 90 seconds into overtime for a 2-1 victory.

A Lakeland assistant coach briefly questioned the validity of the goal, but the Hawks (15-5-1) calmly conceded the title moments later.

“It was a goal,” Lakeland coach Mario Maddy said. “It’s hard, but it’s the way the ball bounces at times.”

Century’s Rebecca Fort curled a corner kick to the far post, and Katsilometes nailed a header that crossed the plane right before Lakeland goalie Amanda North punched it free.

Although one would be hard-pressed to find any evidence on the faces of his players, Maddy insisted the Hawks were devastated by the sudden end to their title hopes. Lakeland finished second in its first trip to state, but Maddy and his charges aren’t satisfied.

“It’s nice, but really it comes down to we wanted the whole thing,” the ninth-year coach said. “And we’re good enough to win it.”

The Hawks fell behind early in the game when Elizabeth Wahl ignored flaring tendinitis in her knee to fire home a pass from Katsilometes and give Century a 1-0 lead 15 minutes into the contest at the Boise Capital Soccer Complex.

It took until the second half, but Lakeland showed the fight of a team that knew how good it was.

Leading the tenacious display was senior Kayla Steigemeier, the Hawks’ leading scorer this season with 32 goals.

Steigemeier stepped past Century freshman defender Brooke Dial at one point, but lost possession when she kicked the ball too hard on a dribble.

Moments later, though, Steigemeier hit rewind on the highlight reel.

She drove to the end line at the left of the goal then turned and unleashed a kick at a difficult angle.

The shot sliced like a corner kick and landed just in front of the far post, finding net just beyond the reach of Century goalkeeper Megan Sorensen.

It was the last of seven goals surrendered by Century this season, according to their coach, Jamshid Roomiany.

“That is the closest a team has been to us this year,” the Diamondbacks’ coach said while accepting the first-place trophy.

Steigemeier’s heroics showed that Lakeland had recaptured the strategy that allowed the Hawks to reach the state final in their first trip to the tournament.

“It was a physical game,” Maddy said. “That’s their way of attacking. They put bodies on us, and because of that we didn’t play our style in the first half.”

Lakeland’s style of ball control nearly paid dividends, but the one flash of brilliance from the right foot of Katsilometes sent the Hawks back to Rathdrum. Lakeland will have nearly the same squad next year, losing just three seniors.

“They’re devastated,” Maddy said when called on the fact that his players weren’t showing emotion. “They came here for one purpose and one purpose only – to win the state championship.”