Lady Seahawks' season ends in first round of playoffs

Decatur Coach Misty Bunting (Nov. 6, 2009) A loss in the first round of the 3A East Regional tournament was not the way the Stephen Decatur girls' soccer team wanted or expected to finish the season.

"We would be OK with it if Mount Hebron was a tough team to beat," said Decatur Coach Misty Bunting after the No. 8 Seahawks fell 2-0 to the ninthseeded Mount Hebron Vikings last Thursday in Berlin. "We knew we could have played better. It seemed like we were one step behind. It kind of looked like we were in slow motion. As a team, we just couldn't put it together."

Decatur ended the year with a 6-6 record. Bunting said with the number of upperclassmen on the roster, coaches and players expected to finish with a better record. The Seahawks had a shaky start to the season, but Bunting said the squad finished strong in the last three matches before playoffs.

"The way we finish the season is always important to me. I'm proud of how the girls bounced back from the losses we had," she said. "The girls played great the last three games of the [regular] season. They're a great group of girls and they worked hard. I wish we could have made it a little further, but there are no regrets."

Decatur sweeper Daniella Celia (9) clears the ball during the first round of the 3A East Regional Tournament in Berlin Oct. 29 against Mount Hebron. Decatur lost the game 2-0. Haley Socha (17) dribbles the ball for Stephen Decatur during the first round of the 3A East Regional Tournament in Berlin Oct. 29 against Mount Hebron. Decatur lost the game 2-0.