Last Tuesday on November 17th, the Girl’s Varsity Soccer team took on its district rival Lake Highland Prep. The Trinity Prep and Lake Highland rivalry has been in full effect in these past two years ever since the two schools were put back into the same classification for multiple sports. The most recent of the two school’s matchups resulted in a thrilling overtime win for the Saint’s football team. This particular LHP matchup had even more meaning for the Girl’s Soccer team this week than just a rivalry. The Highlanders are the girl’s biggest competition in the district this year. A win would mean a better spot in the district tournament.
The two teams played each other twice last season. The first regular season game resulted in an overwhelming 5-0 win for the Highlanders. In the district matchup though, the Saints kept close and lost by a narrow margin of 1-0. When game time came around at 5:30, the girl’s were fired up and ready to go.
The game was controlled by defense as both teams struggled to get anything going on offense. The Saints scored first in the first half and were able to hang on to that lead for awhile. With only five minutes left in the second half, the Saints still held their 1-0 lead. However, the Highlanders tied it up off a great shot by Mercedes Sapp. Sapp, daughter of NFL Hall of Famer Warren Sapp, is an LHP senior who is committed to play soccer next year at the University of Missouri. After Sapp’s score neither team could pull away for the win, and the game ended in a 1-1 tie.
While a tie may not seem like a great result for Trinity’s girls, it will go a long way. The tie still puts them in good position for the district tournament ,which will be hosted at Trinity Prep, but more importantly, it gives the team confidence that they can hang with teams like Lake Highland.
“Honestly we should have won that game,” sophomore Abbie Brinson said. “The good thing about that is now we know that we can really compete for this district.”
The district tournament will begin in January, and the girls have a legitimate shot at going far this year.