With 2:10 to go in the game, Batavia's Tara Lydon launched a corner kick out to the top of the box. Neuqua Valley's Megan Oyster headed it out, but the Bulldogs' Haliegh Erwin caught the ball and shot it past Wildcats' keeper Rachel Suther, bringing Batavia within a goal at 2-1.
While the Bulldogs (8-8-1) continued to attack against the Neuqua (16-5) defense, it was to no avail as the clock ticked down and the Bulldogs were eliminated from the regional.
"I thought we had a great game. Everyone played amazing. It (stinks) we didn't come out with the outcome we wanted to," said Erwin after the disappointing loss. "It was very intense. Everyone was going up for head balls and tackling. I loved it because I love intense play - it was really fun."
The regional matchup started out with both teams in attack mode. Early on, Batavia's Mary Wandolowski placed a cross to the middle of the box for forward Kailey Gear, who tried the header but missed.
With less than 24 minutes left in the half, Batavia's Torrey Kinniard launched a shot on goal, but it sailed harmlessly over the top crossbar.
The Wildcats scored their first goal at 20:15 when Alex Isdell put a dribbler past Batavia goalie Elana Mudrak, putting them up 1-0. Their second came when with 15:32 left in the second half when freshman midfielder Megan Oyster bent a penalty kick over the Batavia wall, bouncing it off the crossbar and onto the head of Kendra Collins, who headed it to midfielder Ashley Marrapode, and she laced it past Mudrak for an insurance goal, putting the Wildcats up 2-0.
"I'm pleased with what we accomplished this year," said Batavia head coach Jim McAlpin. "We played much better than our record would indicate. We've grown together; we've accomplished most of the things we wanted to. We got beat by an excellent team and we have no regrets." Girls Soccer: Class AA Neuqua Valley Regional
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