Skyla Sheldon moves the ball down field during Lady Devils 1-0 win over Maeser Prep Academy on Oct. 16. Photo by Jeff Richards
“It was a good season. I wouldn’t change it for anything. It was very successful,” said GCHS junior and team captain Caitlin Pfnister.
The Lady Devils played their first playoff game on Wednesday, Oct. 16, facing Maeser Preperatory Academy. That match was played in Moab and the Lady Devils won the game by the score of 1-0. GCHS sophomore Skyla Sheldon scored the winning goal.
“Maeser Prep came to play,” said Pfnister. “But we wanted it more this year.”
Head coach Mike Camps praised the Lady Devils for taking charge in the match.
“We had our chances and we took them,” Camps said.
The quarterfinal game against Delta was a tense match for the Lady Devils as the single-elimination playoff tournament brackets put pressure on the team. Delta’s shutout of the Lady Devils marked the end of Grand’s 2013 season. Delta, previously a 3A school, was moved into to 2A for the 2013 sports season.
However, the match also made history for the Lady Devil’s soccer team as it was the first quarterfinal playoff game to be held on the GCHS soccer field.
“We’ve only made it to the quarterfinals three times,” said Pfnister, “and this was the first time that we played at home. The girls were nervous. You could feel the tension.”
The Lady Devils were missing two starting players and the rest of the girls worked hard to fill in the holes during the game.
“It was a tough game. We filled in the holes, moved people around. We had two defenders injured, but the girls had a quick commitment level,” Pfnister said. “I was proud that they were able to pull through.”
Though the Lady Devils may be finished with their 2013 season, they are looking forward to 2014.
“We’ve got a young team. I’m really looking forward to next year,” Camps said. “I’ve got high hopes. I’m proud of the girls.”
The Lady Devils will begin training and conditioning for the fall 2014 season in the summer of 2014.