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It's a familiar story in the sports world. A team rolls over all opponents in the regular season only to fail to find that extra gear in the playoffs.
Such was the case this season for the promising Brighton Bengals girls' soccer team. The Brighton girls mustered a 14-1-2 record, with their only loss coming to Region 4 rival and eventual 5A state champion Alta.
And then they ran into Viewmont in the quarterfinals.
After dispatching the Region 2 first-place team, Skyline, the Vikings came into the game against the Bengals with their heads high and swagger in their step. From the first whistle, Viewmont was up to the challenge. And Brighton was not as Viewmont took a 3-2 overtime win.
"The girls just didn't play up to their best capabilities," said Brighton coach Tennille Vance. "They were a little nervous, not knowing anything really about Viewmont. They struggled in the first half and, all in all, just didn't play their best when Viewmont wanted it a little more."
The game started like most for the Bengals when Stephanie Verdoia found the back of the net inside the first two minutes of the game.
This would be the Bengals' high point of the day. It rapidly went downhill as Viewmont's Mattison Beckman tied the game minutes later. Leah Ellertson put the Vikings ahead early in the second until Verdoia scored her second of the game. Even on their worst of games, the Bengals still had a chance to win it in the final seconds
When Viewmont's Aleesha Flandro kicked the game winner in the 88th minute in overtime, what happened on the field afterwards turned out to be the most disappointing event of the day. Viewmont coach Eric Landon refused to stop celebrating to participate in the customary handshake, which Brighton took as a slap in the face.
Though they saw Viewmont's lack of sportsmanship as appalling, the Bengals know they should have been able to prevent it from happening in the first place. The season ended, but Vance is already using this season's outcome as a lesson for the squad she has next fall.
Of Brighton's notable players to return next year, no one will bring more to the table than Verdoia. She led the team with 16 goals, up from 10 last year, and will have both state final runners-up and top-seed heartbreak experience to guide the Bengals to another successful season. The majority of the midfield and defense will be back next season, including Amanda Jensen, McKenna Kimball and Maddie Adams. Tominaga will be Bengal's greatest loss, as she raised her game to new heights this season playing alongside Verdoia, scoring 11 goals to finish second on the team.
The Bengals learned the valuable lesson of what it means to play a full 80 minutes, especially in the playoffs when no one will just lie down because of their record. After losing to Alta in the state finals last season, Brighton had the experience and weapons necessary to make another run at the Hawks again. With a majority of the power returning to the roster next season, it's not out of the question to see Brighton right back up top of the standings next season and, hopefully, give Alta a run for their title.
