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Clarkdale's Jordan Lowe collides with Our Lady Academy's keeper Savannah Lacoste as she slides out to save the ball from going in during the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A state championship in Clinton on Friday. Paula Merritt
Clarkdale players wipe away tears as they accept the runner-up trophy for the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A state championship in Clinton on Friday. Paula Merritt
Clarkdale's Haley Dupre' battles against Our Lady Academy's Colleen Rafferty on Friday during the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A state championship in Clinton. Paula Merritt
Clarkdale's Mackenzie Bounds works down the sideline against Our Lady Academy's Colleen Rafferty during the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A state championship in Clinton on Friday. Paula Merritt
Clarkdale's Haley Hutcherson leaps to get control of the ball Friday against Our Lady Academy during the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A state championship in Clinton on Friday. Paula Merritt
Clarkdale's Haley Hutcherson tries to kick the ball away from Our Lady Academy's Blake Stefano during the MHSAA Class 1A/2A/3A state championship in Clinton on Friday as the referee makes a call. Paula Merritt

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February 4, 2012

Crescents silence Bulldogs for third straight state title

By David Landrum / Sports Writer The Meridian Star The Meridian Star Sat Feb 04, 2012, 06:00 AM CST

CLINTON —     A real life David vs. Goliath meeting took place in the Class 1A/2A/3A girls state championship soccer game Friday afternoon at Clinton High School's Arrow Field.

   Having never advanced farther than the second round of the MSHSAA soccer playoffs, Clarkdale entered looking to shock the state and win its first state title. In th way stood Our Lady Academy, a nine-time state champion from Bay St. Louis.

   The Crescents blanked the Bulldogs 5-0 for their third straight title and 10th since 2000.

   OLA wasted no time in getting the first goal of the game and an eigth-grader provided the spark as just three minutes into the game, OLA's Maggie Kowalski got a rebound off and sent the ball past Clarkdale keeper Molly McLeod.

   Clarkdale coach Lea Castleberry said her team's jitters got the best of them early on.

   "This is the first time we've made it this far," Castlebarry said. "We were a little shocked out there."

   OLA coach Andie Thornton said the younger players on the team grew up a lot this year.

   "We play hard all of the time," she said. "Our younger players have stepped up in a huge way this year and Maggie was able to take advantage of the rebound and push it through for the goal."

   OLA kept up the pressure as the Crescents fired six shots within the first four minutes of the game. McLeod, though, would not be deterred as she repeatedly saved shot after shot to keep the score at 1-0. OLA's keper, Savannah Lacoste, was equal to the task as she kept the Bulldogs out of the net.

   The game stayed on Clarkdale's side of the field as OLA dictated the pace and speed of the game. The game slowed down as both teams jockeyed for position. OLA midfielder Ashleigh Hoda said the Crescents let down a little in the first half.

   "We thought 'Ok, we scored and Clarkdale was going to quit,'" Hoda said. "We finally got going in the last 10 minutes."

   The Crescents made it 2-0 when Ashleigh Hoda scored, on an assist from Kowalski, right in front of the goalie. The game went to halftime with OLA leading 2-0.

   "They were too quick for us," Castleberry, "Their speed was very deceptive and we got down early and couldn't recover."

   Said Thornton: "We didnt know much about Clarkdale. We didn't know what to expect."

   OLA struck again four minutes into the second half. OLA's captain, Blake Stafano, took a header off of a corner kick and put the Crescents up 3-0. Stafano's goal was her 25th of the year and tied her with Tiffany Jones for the team lead.

   The pressure got to Clarkdale as OLA dominated the second half, outshooting the Bulldogs 8-2 through the first 23 minutes of the second half. Hoda got her second goal of the contest at the 27:30 mark of the second half to make it 4-0.

   Hoda then got the hat trick with 33:30 mark when McLeod mishandled a shot by Jones and Hoda kicked it through.

   Our Lady Academy finished the year with record of 19-3-3, while Clarkdale fell to 13-2. Afterward, Castleberry said the Bulldogs would be back next year.

   "We have a lot of younger players who got a lot of experience this year," she said. "So don't count us out next year."

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Dreams Dashed

Crescents silence Bulldogs for third straight state title

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