Journal-News.com

CINCINNATI — For the first time in four years, the Badin High School girls soccer team won't be making a trip to state.

The Rams surrendered a goal three and a half minutes into their Division II regional championship game against Madeira, and the state's No. 1-ranked team made that score stand up for a 1-0 victory Saturday, Nov. 1, at Princeton.

"Nobody even expected us to be here," Badin coach Keith Harring said after watching his team end its season with a 12-6-4 record. "I knew this was a team we were gonna have to push hard to get back to this level, and they accepted that pushing."

The Amazons, who lost to Badin 2-1 in last year's state semifinals and tied the Rams 0-0 earlier this season, improved to 20-0-1 and will face Fenwick in Wednesday's state semifinals.

"This is huge for our seniors who have struggled against (Badin) for the past four years," Madeira coach Dan Brady said. "It's a long, hard road to get to the final four, and to get through a team like Badin makes it that much more special."

While Madeira got a goal from senior Alexis Carter just 3:24 into the game, the Rams didn't even get off a shot against the much more physical Amazons until two minutes were left in the first half. Junior Sydnee Fields launched a direct kick from 30 yards out that Amazons junior goalkeeper Mary Hyde made a nice dive to her left to save.

Turns out it was only her second best save of the night.

With 24 minutes left in the game, freshman Kim Golden ripped a direct kick from 28 yards out that looked destined to squeak in just under the crossbar. But Hyde made a leaping slap save to knock the ball over the the crossbar.

"It was a fast shot, and our wall wasn't really set up," Hyde said. "I just lept and it hit my palm and it went over. It felt really cool."

The feeling obviously was different on the other sideline.

"I would've liked to have put a little more toward the back post, but the goalie made a great save," Golden said. "I'm disappointed, but at the beginning of the year our record was not very good (1-3-2 through six games) and we were not supposed to make it this far. But we stepped it up, and I just want to say that I am very proud of this team. I'm sad that we lost, but I'm more proud of what we accomplished."

Harring echoed those sentiments.

"We showed that we're not a 10th-ranked team in Cincinnati," he said, referring to the city poll. "We really challenged the No. 1 team in the state, and they knew they were in a ballgame. I'm just so proud of these girls."

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jmorrison@coxohio.com.