CLOVER -- Clover's trip to the Upper State playoffs was short lived as the Blue Eagles dropped a hard-fought 1-0 decision to Spartanburg in the first round at Memorial Stadium on Monday.
Clover, at 12-7-1, entered the playoffs as the No. 2-seed out of Region 3-AAAA with hopes of advancing deeper into the playoffs. But after struggling to settle down and adjust to a stronger, more physical Vikings squad, Clover allowed an unfortunate goal in the 43rd minute to fall behind 1-0 after a lapse in defensive pressure inside the penalty box.
Spartanburg midfielder Claire Hodge found herself in the right place at the right time as several Blue Eagles struggled to clear the ball from danger in front of their goal. With the ball bouncing around 12 yards away from the goal, Hodge managed to get just enough power on her shot to direct the ball past Chelsea Davis and into the right corner of the net to break the scoreless game.
"We were fortunate," said Vikings coach Paul McGinty. "On the goal, we played it wide and sent it back through and Claire was able to fight her way through two players in order to score. She was determined to get in there. She's done that all year and put the ball away, the one that we needed.
Clover coach Leann Mellon, who has been selected coach the North team in the North-South Soccer Classic, knew that in a game against a quality opponent like Spartanburg, her Blue Eagles needed to be sharp with each pass and not allow mistakes that would ultimately beat them. Until an offensive spurt late in the first half, Spartanburg dictated the flow and direction of the game, due in large part to mistakes created at the feet of Blue Eagles all across the field.
"We made a few adjustments at halftime and knew we were physically fit to stay in it," she said. "But we just weren't in it. We switched a couple things but we continued to give the ball to them and they weren't going to give us any breaks."
The Blue Eagles' defense, anchored by sophomore Brooke Barr, weathered the first-half onslaught by the No. 3-seeded Vikings and jumpstarted an otherwise stagnant offense to create several scoring opportunities minutes before the half wilted away. Sophomore Kelsey Hamilton slipped a through pass on the ground to fellow sophomore Jacqueline Antunes at the top of the 18-yard box to set up a one-on-one with Vikings goalkeeper Natalie Rainer. Rainer quickly smothered the ball at the feet of Antunes to silence the promising opportunity that would have put Clover ahead to end the half.
Spartanburg countered quickly at the other end less than a minute later, but Ellis Bagwell's point-blank shot sailed over the crossbar. Three minutes later, she had a second chance on goal, but Davis saved her shot.
After taking the 1-0 lead, Spartanburg began to play with complacency and the Blue Eagles began to attack with 20 minutes left to play. Mellon shifted her formation and began playing three forwards. The move nearly led to the equalizer in the 75th minute as freshman Alissa Pantuosco connected on a pass with junior Rachel Newmister about 20 yards out from the goal. Newmister dribbled past one defender and fired a shot that was saved by Rainer.
Clover's two seniors, Ashley Hollander and Britta Widenhouse, end their Blue Eagle careers but have one more game left as each has been selected to play for the North team in next weekend's North-South Soccer Classic.
Spartanburg advances to play top-seeded T.L. Hanna , which beat No.4-seed Irmo on Monday.
Spartanburg 1
Clover 0
