The senior was brutally honest about her team`s play, as always, but she also was endlessly positive and upbeat. While the season-ending loss stung the Trojans in a major way, just about everybody on the roster walked out of Valor Stadium after the game with at least a hint of a smile on their faces.
"There were some serious defensive breakdowns, but there were also a lot of defensive victories," Schwartz said. "I would have liked for us to come out and win, of course. But, you know, you have to score goals. I think we had the potential to score five or six goals tonight; it just didn`t work out that way."
Longmont, playing in the state quarterfinals for the first time since 2003, capped its remarkable season with a record of 11-5-2. Erica Meier finished as the team`s leading scorer with 16 goals to go with 12 assists on the season.
The Eagles peppered Schwartz with shots in both halves, but she had to make a number of clutch saves just to keep the score 1-0 in the first half.
Valor Christian leading scorer Jaelene Hinkle opened the scoring in the 23rd minute on an unassisted goal. It was her 23rd goal of the season.
While Longmont was still in the game, that first goal changed the dynamic of play.
"They are such a good team at possession and can really control the tempo," Schwartz said. "When they went up 1-0, they were no longer in a position where they needed to score; they just needed to hold the lead.
"Valor picked up their game. They played like they could win state. I don`t know if we did the entire 80 minutes."
The Trojans, a team that was able to score in bunches and press the pace against almost every opponent this season, struggled to gain momentum on offense.
Jaelynn Thorn ran all over the field and had a couple of close calls but few truly good chances. Meier, who will play at the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, tried to make something happen but had to settle for some longer shots that went just wide or just high.
And the Eagles removed any doubt about the final outcome after scoring a flurry of goals in the second half.
First, Hannah Hommel finished a beautiful goal that started with a corner kick and that Hinkle one-touched for the assist. Hayden Gibson scored 10 minutes later on a free kick from 40 yards out that was placed perfectly and allowed Schwartz no chance to save.
Minutes later, Valor Christian completed another pretty play, with Kelly Schunk finding Janine Beckie for the fourth and final goal.
"It is amazing that we made it this far. It just hurts to lose," first-year coach Allison Douthit said. "It was an incredible season. This is a very tight-knit team."
Senior defender Molly Christopher agreed.
"This was the greatest season that I`ve ever been a part of," she said. "We had a lot of talent, but we`ve had talent before. The way we all came together magnified that talent even further.
"This is a loss right now, but the season counts as a win."
Font Resize
